How to pronounce patois
Say it like pa-TWO. Patois has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TWO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce patois. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pa
- TWO
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Patois pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- paKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- TWOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of patois
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1.
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: PAT-wah.
What does patois mean?
- A regional dialect (usually one considered nonstandard) of a language (especially French).
- Any of various French, Franco-Provençal or Occitan dialects spoken in France.
- Creole French in the Caribbean (especially in Dominica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti).
Where does patois come from?
Borrowed from French patois (“regional dialect or language”), c.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with patois
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of patois.
Questions about saying patois
How do you pronounce patois?
Say pa-TWO. The American pronunciation is /pæˈtwɑ/. In British English it is /ˈpætwɑː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in patois?
Patois has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TWO). Broken into parts: pa · TWO.
Is patois pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1. The British form is /ˈpætwɑː/ (PAT-wah).