How to pronounce palooka
Say it like puh-LOO-kuh. Palooka has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce palooka. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- LOO
- kuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Palooka 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.
- LOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of palooka
American and British speakers say palooka in essentially the same way: /pəˈlukə/ in the US and /pəˈluːkə/ in the UK.
British respelling: puh-LOO-kuh.
What does palooka mean?
- A stupid, oafish or clumsy person.
- Someone incompetent or untalented.
Where does palooka come from?
Used in the US since the 1920s, originally primarily of boxers.
Words that rhyme with palooka
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of palooka.
Questions about saying palooka
How do you pronounce palooka?
Say puh-LOO-kuh. The American pronunciation is /pəˈlukə/. In British English it is /pəˈluːkə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in palooka?
Palooka has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOO). Broken into parts: puh · LOO · kuh.
Do Americans and Brits say palooka the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pəˈlukə/ and the British form is /pəˈluːkə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.