How to pronounce pahoehoe
Say it like puh-HOH-ee-hoh-ee. Pahoehoe has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pahoehoe. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- HOH
- ee
- hoh
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pahoehoe pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- HOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- hohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of pahoehoe
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: puh-HOH-ee-hoh-ee.
What does pahoehoe mean?
- A form of lava flow of basaltic rock, usually dark-colored with a smooth or ropey surface. It is one of two chief forms of lava flow emitted from volcanoes of the Hawaiian type, the other form being aa.
Where does pahoehoe come from?
Borrowed from Hawaiian pāhoehoe.
Questions about saying pahoehoe
How do you pronounce pahoehoe?
Say puh-HOH-ee-hoh-ee. The American pronunciation is /pəˈhoʊihoʊi/. In British English it is /pəˈhəʊihəʊi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pahoehoe?
Pahoehoe has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HOH). Broken into parts: puh · HOH · ee · hoh · ee.
Is pahoehoe pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /pəˈhəʊihəʊi/ (puh-HOH-ee-hoh-ee).