How to pronounce pompadour
Say it like PAHM-puh-dor. Pompadour has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAHM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pompadour. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAHM
- puh
- dor
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pompadour pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PAHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- dorKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of pompadour
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: POM-puh-door.
What does pompadour mean?
- A women's hairstyle in which the hair is swept upwards from the face and worn high over the forehead.
- A men's hairstyle of the 1950s.
- A crimson or pink color.
- To style hair into a pompadour
Where does pompadour come from?
From French Pompadour, after Madame de Pompadour (1721–1764), mistress of Louis XV.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying pompadour
How do you pronounce pompadour?
Say PAHM-puh-dor. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑmpədɔr/. In British English it is /ˈpɒmpədʊə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pompadour?
Pompadour has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAHM). Broken into parts: PAHM · puh · dor.
Is pompadour pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈpɒmpədʊə/ (POM-puh-door).