How to pronounce poleaxe
Say it like POH-laks. Poleaxe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce poleaxe. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POH
- laks
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Poleaxe pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- laksGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of poleaxe
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: POH-laks.
What does poleaxe mean?
- An ax having both a blade and a hammer face; used to slaughter cattle.
- To fell someone with, or as if with, a poleaxe.
- To astonish; to shock or surprise utterly.
- To stymie, thwart, cripple, paralyze.
Where does poleaxe come from?
From earlier pollax, from poll (“head”) + axe, with the spelling influenced by pole.
Questions about saying poleaxe
How do you pronounce poleaxe?
Say POH-laks. The American pronunciation is /ˈpoʊˌlæks/. In British English it is /ˈpəʊˌlæks/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in poleaxe?
Poleaxe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POH). Broken into parts: POH · laks.
Is poleaxe 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 /ˈpəʊˌlæks/ (POH-laks).