How to pronounce lodestar
Say it like LOHD-star. Lodestar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOHD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lodestar. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOHD
- star
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lodestar pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOHDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- starKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of lodestar
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: LOHD-stah.
What does lodestar mean?
- A star used as a navigation reference, particularly a pole star such as Polaris.
- A guiding tenet or principle.
- A calculated amount to award as attorney's fees derived by multiplying the reasonable number of hours spent working on a case by the reasonable hourly billing rate.
Where does lodestar come from?
From Middle English lode (“journey, course”) + star, where lode is an archaic noun from the verb lithe (“to go, journey”), related to lead.
Questions about saying lodestar
How do you pronounce lodestar?
Say LOHD-star. The American pronunciation is /ˈloʊdstɑr/. In British English it is /ˈləʊdstɑː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lodestar?
Lodestar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOHD). Broken into parts: LOHD · star.
Is lodestar pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈləʊdstɑː/ (LOHD-stah).