How to pronounce maxim
Say it like MAK-sum. Maxim has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce maxim. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAK
- sum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Maxim pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- sumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of maxim
American and British speakers say maxim in essentially the same way: /ˈmæksəm/ in the US and /ˈmæksɪm/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAK-sim.
What does maxim mean?
- A precept; a succinct statement or observation of a rule of conduct or moral teaching.
- Alternative letter-case form of Maxim.
Where does maxim come from?
From Anglo-Norman maxime and Middle French maxime, from Late Latin maxima (“axiom”), noun use of the feminine singular form of Latin maximus (apparently as used in the phrase prōpositiō maxima (“greatest premise”)).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying maxim
How do you pronounce maxim?
Say MAK-sum. The American pronunciation is /ˈmæksəm/. In British English it is /ˈmæksɪm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in maxim?
Maxim has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAK). Broken into parts: MAK · sum.
Do Americans and Brits say maxim the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmæksəm/ and the British form is /ˈmæksɪm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.