How to pronounce poi
Say it like POY. Poi is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce poi. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Poi pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of poi
American and British speakers say poi in essentially the same way: /pɔɪ/ in the US and /pɔɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: POY.
What does poi mean?
- The traditional staple food of Hawaii, made by baking and pounding the kalo (or taro) root, and reducing it to a thin paste, which is allowed to ferment.
- A creamy Samoan dessert of ripe bananas mashed with coconut cream.
- A small ball made of leaves and fibers, attached to a string.
- A traditional dance performed by Maori women involving the rhythmic swinging of such a ball.
- Alternative form of poee (“Goan flatbread”).
Where does poi come from?
Borrowed from Hawaiian poi.
Words that rhyme with poi
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of poi.
Questions about saying poi
How do you pronounce poi?
Say POY. The American pronunciation is /pɔɪ/. In British English it is /pɔɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in poi?
Poi is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: POY.
Do Americans and Brits say poi the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pɔɪ/ and the British form is /pɔɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.