"truths"

[Odessa Dawn]

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truth
   [trooth] Show IPA
noun, plural truths  [troothz, trooths]

Truths | Define Truths at Dictionary.com
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When such symbols (th) written in italics, does that mean that they are optional as a result truths /troothz/ is rhyme with bruise/bruːz/? In other words, th in truths /troothz/will be omitted in spoken English as we see in this word, clothes /klo z/.

Thank you,

 

[Grumpy]

They are not optional; the "th" must be pronounced in "truths". The "th" must also be pronounced in "clothes"; otherwise it will sound like "close"

 

[5jj]

'Truths' can be pronounced either /tru:θs/ or /tru:ðs/. I imagine the italicised 'th' in the dictionary the link leads us to represents /ð/.

I do not agree with Grumpy about 'clothes'. The 'th' is often not pronounced in informal speech. Although the Cambridge EPD does not give the /kləʊz/ pronunciation, the LPD lists it before /kləʊðz/.

 

[Grumpy]

Bah, Humbug! That could cause terrible confusion at home in Scotland. If I didn't pronounce the "th" in "truths", everyone would think I was talking about "trews", which are [as any fule kno] traditional tartan trousers.

 

[5jj]

Bah, Humbug! That could cause terrible confusion at home in Scotland. If I didn't pronounce the "th" in "truths", everyone would think I was talking about "trews", which are [as any fule kno] traditional tartan trousers.

OK, McMolesworth, but what I actually said was that the 'th' in 'truths' could be pronounced /θ/ or /ð/. I did not say it was not pronounced at all. I did suggest that it was not always pronounced in 'clothes'.

Lang may yer lum leak, or whatever it does up there.