How to pronounce pounce
Say it like POWNS. Pounce 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 pounce. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POWNS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pounce pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POWNSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of pounce
American and British speakers say pounce in essentially the same way: /paʊns/ in the US and /paʊns/ in the UK.
British respelling: POWNS.
What does pounce mean?
- To sprinkle or rub with pounce powder.“to pounce paper, or a pattern”
- To leap into the air intending to seize someone or something.“The kitten pounced at the ball I threw to it.”
- To attack suddenly by leaping.“I was awakened from a dead sleep by my child pouncing on top of me from out of nowhere.”
- To eagerly seize an opportunity.“I pounced on the chance to get promoted.”
- A sudden leaping attack.
- A punch or stamp.
- Cloth worked in eyelet holes.
Where does pounce come from?
From French ponce, from Latin pūmex.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pounce
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pounce.
Questions about saying pounce
How do you pronounce pounce?
Say POWNS. The American pronunciation is /paʊns/. In British English it is /paʊns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pounce?
Pounce is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: POWNS.
Do Americans and Brits say pounce the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /paʊns/ and the British form is /paʊns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.