How to pronounce point
Say it like POYNT. Point 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 point. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POYNT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Point pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POYNTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of point
American and British speakers say point in essentially the same way: /pɔɪnt/ in the US and /pɔɪnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: POYNT.
What does point mean?
- a geometric element that has position but no extension“a point is defined by its coordinates”
- the precise location of something; a spatially limited location“she walked to a point where she could survey the whole street”
- a brief version of the essential meaning of something“get to the point”“he missed the point of the joke”
- indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively“I showed the customer the glove section”“He pointed to the empty parking space”
- be oriented“The weather vane points North”“the dancers toes pointed outward”
- direct into a position for use“point a gun”“He charged his weapon at me”
Where does point come from?
Mostly displaced native Middle English ord (“point”), from Old English ord (“point”).
Words that rhyme with point
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of point.
Questions about saying point
How do you pronounce point?
Say POYNT. The American pronunciation is /pɔɪnt/. In British English it is /pɔɪnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in point?
Point is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: POYNT.
Do Americans and Brits say point the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pɔɪnt/ and the British form is /pɔɪnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.