How to pronounce payola
Say it like pay-OH-luh. Payola has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce payola. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pay
- OH
- luh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Payola pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- payKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- OHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of payola
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: pay-OH-luh.
What does payola mean?
- A bribe given in exchange for a favor, such as one given in exchange for the promotion of goods or services (originally one given to a disk jockey to play a record).
Where does payola come from?
Perhaps a blend of pay + Victrola, equivalent to pay + -ola.
Words that rhyme with payola
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of payola.
Questions about saying payola
How do you pronounce payola?
Say pay-OH-luh. The American pronunciation is /peɪˈoʊlə/. In British English it is /peɪˈəʊlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in payola?
Payola has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OH). Broken into parts: pay · OH · luh.
Is payola 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 /peɪˈəʊlə/ (pay-OH-luh).