How to pronounce soapbox
Say it like SOHP-bahks. Soapbox has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOHP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce soapbox. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOHP
- bahks
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Soapbox pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SOHPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- bahksGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of soapbox
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SOHP-boks.
What does soapbox mean?
- A crate for packing soap.
- A small platform, being or resembling a literal soapbox, on which a person stands in order to give an impromptu speech or espouse their views.“The madman obtained a soapbox which he stood on at the corner of Broadway and Wall street, to shout out his prophecy of the end of the world.”
- A soapbox car.
- To give a speech from (or as if from) a soapbox.
Where does soapbox come from?
From soap + box. The figurative use of the word derives from the fact that soap products in the US used to be commonly transported to stores in large wooden boxes.
Questions about saying soapbox
How do you pronounce soapbox?
Say SOHP-bahks. The American pronunciation is /ˈsoʊpˌbɑks/. In British English it is /ˈsəʊpˌbɒks/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in soapbox?
Soapbox has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOHP). Broken into parts: SOHP · bahks.
Is soapbox pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈsəʊpˌbɒks/ (SOHP-boks).