How to pronounce tax
Say it like TAKS. Tax 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 tax. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TAKS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tax pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TAKSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of tax
American and British speakers say tax in essentially the same way: /tæks/ in the US and /tæks/ in the UK.
British respelling: TAKS.
What does tax mean?
- charge against a citizen's person or property or activity for the support of government
- levy a tax on“The State taxes alcohol heavily”“Clothing is not taxed in our state”
- set or determine the amount of (a payment such as a fine)
- use to the limit“you are taxing my patience”
Where does tax come from?
From Middle English taxe, from Middle French taxe, from Medieval Latin taxa, from Latin taxō (“to appraise, value, estimate; (medieval) to tax”).
Words that rhyme with tax
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tax.
Questions about saying tax
How do you pronounce tax?
Say TAKS. The American pronunciation is /tæks/. In British English it is /tæks/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tax?
Tax is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TAKS.
Do Americans and Brits say tax the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tæks/ and the British form is /tæks/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.