How to pronounce joss
Say it like JAWS. Joss is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce joss. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JAWS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Joss pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JAWSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of joss
American and British speakers say joss in essentially the same way: /dʒɔs/ in the US and /dʒɒs/ in the UK.
British respelling: JOS.
What does joss mean?
- A Chinese household divinity; a Chinese idol.
- A heathen divinity.
- Luck.
Where does joss come from?
From Chinese Pidgin English joss, from Macau Pidgin Portuguese, from Portuguese deus (“god”), from Latin deus (“god”), from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (“god/that which belongs to heaven”).
Words that rhyme with joss
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of joss.
Questions about saying joss
How do you pronounce joss?
Say JAWS. The American pronunciation is /dʒɔs/. In British English it is /dʒɒs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in joss?
Joss is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: JAWS.
Do Americans and Brits say joss the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʒɔs/ and the British form is /dʒɒs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.