How to pronounce saxophone
Say it like SAK-suh-fohn. Saxophone has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce saxophone. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAK
- suh
- fohn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Saxophone pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- fohnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of saxophone
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SAK-suh-fohn.
What does saxophone mean?
- A single-reed instrument musical instrument of the woodwind family, usually made of brass and with a distinctive loop bringing the bell upwards.“I played the saxophone in high school.”
- Someone who plays the saxophone; a saxophonist.“The saxophones typically sit behind the flutes in a concert band.”
- To play the saxophone.
Questions about saying saxophone
How do you pronounce saxophone?
Say SAK-suh-fohn. The American pronunciation is /ˈsæksəˌfoʊn/. In British English it is /ˈsæksəˌfəʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in saxophone?
Saxophone has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAK). Broken into parts: SAK · suh · fohn.
Is saxophone 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 /ˈsæksəˌfəʊn/ (SAK-suh-fohn).