How to pronounce climax
Say it like KLY-maks. Climax has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KLY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce climax. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KLY
- maks
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Climax pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KLYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- maksGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of climax
American and British speakers say climax in essentially the same way: /ˈklaɪˌmæks/ in the US and /ˈklaɪmæks/ in the UK.
British respelling: KLY-maks.
What does climax mean?
- the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding“the climax of the artist's career”“in the flood tide of his success”
- the decisive moment in a novel or play“the deathbed scene is the climax of the play”
- the most severe stage of a disease
- end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage“The meeting culminated in a tearful embrace”
Questions about saying climax
How do you pronounce climax?
Say KLY-maks. The American pronunciation is /ˈklaɪˌmæks/. In British English it is /ˈklaɪmæks/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in climax?
Climax has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KLY). Broken into parts: KLY · maks.
Do Americans and Brits say climax the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈklaɪˌmæks/ and the British form is /ˈklaɪmæks/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.