How to pronounce lax
Say it like LAKS. Lax 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 lax. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAKS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lax pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAKSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of lax
American and British speakers say lax in essentially the same way: /læks/ in the US and /læks/ in the UK.
British respelling: LAKS.
What does lax mean?
- lacking in rigor or strictness“such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable”“lax in attending classes”
- pronounced with muscles of the tongue and jaw relatively relaxed (e.g., the vowel sound in bet)
- lacking in firmness or tension; not taut“a lax rope”
Where does lax come from?
Borrowed from Latin laxus (“wide, roomy, loose”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with lax
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lax.
Questions about saying lax
How do you pronounce lax?
Say LAKS. The American pronunciation is /læks/. In British English it is /læks/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lax?
Lax is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LAKS.
Do Americans and Brits say lax the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /læks/ and the British form is /læks/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.