How to pronounce poise
Say it like POYZ. Poise 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 poise. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POYZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Poise pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POYZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of poise
American and British speakers say poise in essentially the same way: /pɔɪz/ in the US and /pɔɪz/ in the UK.
British respelling: POYZ.
What does poise mean?
- To hold (something) in equilibrium, to hold balanced and ready; to carry (something) ready to be used.“I poised the crowbar in my hand, and waited.”
- To keep (something) in equilibrium; to hold suspended or balanced.“The rock was poised precariously on the edge of the cliff.”
- To ascertain, as if by balancing; to weigh.
- A state of balance, equilibrium or stability.
- Composure; freedom from embarrassment or affectation.
- Mien; bearing or deportment of the head or body.
- Unit of viscosity in the centimetre–gram–second system of units (CGS).
Where does poise come from?
From Middle English poys, poyse, from Anglo-Norman pois, Middle French pois (“weight”) and Anglo-Norman poise, Middle French poise (“measure of weight”), from Latin pendere (“to weigh, ponder, think”).
Words that rhyme with poise
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of poise.
Questions about saying poise
How do you pronounce poise?
Say POYZ. The American pronunciation is /pɔɪz/. In British English it is /pɔɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in poise?
Poise is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: POYZ.
Do Americans and Brits say poise the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pɔɪz/ and the British form is /pɔɪz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.