2 syllables: cli, max. Stress on cli.
KLEYE-maks
/ˈklaɪˌmæks/
climax is pronounced KLEYE-maks (/ˈklaɪˌmæks/). It has two syllables (cli-max), with the stress on "cli". Climax refers to the highest or most intense point in a story, event, or process. It marks a turning moment where tension peaks before resolution. In general usage, it denotes the point of greatest intensity or consequence, whether dramatic, emotional, or physical, after which outcomes unfold.
Climax refers to the highest or most intense point in a story, event, or process. It marks a turning moment where tension peaks before resolution. In general usage, it denotes the point of greatest intensity or consequence, whether dramatic, emotional, or physical, after which outcomes unfold.
- Common mispronunciation involves softening or misplacing the diphthong: say /klaɪ/ clearly and avoid reducing the /aɪ/ to /a/ or /iː/. - Another error is the final /æks/ being pronounced as /æks/ with a separate syllable, or inserting a vowel, like /æɪ ks/. - A third issue is the second syllable’s vowel quality; avoid /mɪ/ or /mɪks/. Correction tips: exaggerate the /aɪ/ to establish the diphthong, keep the /æ/ crisp, and glide into /ks/ without a vowel between /æ/ and /ks/. Practice by repeating /ˈklaɪ.mæks/ slowly, then normal speed.
"The novel reaches its climax when the detective discovers the culprit."
"During the concert, the orchestra swelled to a powerful climax that captivated the audience."
"In the project timeline, the climax occurs just before the final deadline."
Pronounce as /ˈklaɪ.mæks/. The first syllable has primary stress: 'KLY' with a long I as in 'fly', followed by a short /æ/ like in 'cat', and ends with /m/ + /æks/. Your mouth starts with a wide front-open vowel for the /aɪ/ diphthong, then closes with a light /m/ and a clear /æ/ before /ks/. IPA: US /ˈklaɪ.mæks/, UK /ˈklaɪ.mæks/, AU /ˈklaɪ.mæks/.
Common errors include pronouncing the second syllable as /lɪ/ (clil-maks) or reducing /æ/ to /ə/ (cləx). Some speakers misplace the stress as /ˈklɪ.mæks/ or say /ˈklaɪ.mæks/ with a prolonged second syllable. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, ensure /ɪ/ in the first part is a clear /aɪ/ diphthong, and articulate the final /mæks/ crisply—avoid blending the /æ/ into a schwa. Practice with minimal pairs and marcato emphasis.
All three accents share /ˈklaɪ.mæks/ pattern, but vowels can shift subtly. US: rhotic with a firmer /æ/; UK: non-rhotic? rhoticity varies by speaker; /æ/ may sound slightly clipped. AU: tends to be less reduced and may carry a more open /æ/ with slightly more rounded lip position. The primary stress remains on the first syllable in all. Watch for /ks/ timing—avoid an extra vowel sound between /æ/ and /ks/.
Two main challenges: the diphthong /aɪ/ in the first syllable requires an accurate movement from low to high tongue height, and the final /æks/ cluster demands precise lip-lip and tongue-twitch coordination to avoid inserting a vowel before /ks/. Additionally, keeping stress on the first syllable while not letting the second syllable reduce helps keep natural rhythm. Practicing the /ˈklaɪ.mæks/ pattern with controlled breath helps solidity.
A distinctive feature is ensuring the /aɪ/ is realized as a strong diphthong starting with a near-open front unrounded vowel moving toward the higher front position. The transition to /m/ should be smooth, with the /æ/ not reduced to a schwa before /ks/. Also, avoid pronouncing it as 'climaxe' or 'clim-ax' by maintaining a hard /ks/ ending. Mouth positions: /kl/ onset with a rounded lips and a wide jaw opening on /aɪ/.
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- US: pronounce /ˈklaɪ.mæks/ with a clear /aɪ/ and a strong /æ/; avoid reducing /æ/ to /ə/. - UK: maintain non-rhotic quality; stress remains on /klaɪ/; ensure final /ks/ is crisp. - AU: similar to US but with slightly broader vowel space; keep the diphthong robust and avoid flattening; lip rounding is mild, with a more open jaw at /aɪ/. Use IPA guides: /ˈklaɪ.mæks/.
Climax comes from the Greek word klimax, meaning a ladder or something stacked, from kleô (to lean toward, to climb). The term entered English in the 17th century, initially used in rhetoric and music to denote a rising line or arch of sounds. By the 19th century, the sense broadened to describe the highest point of dramatic tension in narratives and plays. The progression from classical rhetoric to literary criticism reflects an evolution from a literal ascent to a metaphorical peak of intensity. Historically, the term also appears in anatomy and botany, where elements reach peak development before decline or transformation. The modern sense centers on the culmination of conflict: the moment when stakes are highest, and the outcome is decided, before falling action and resolution in a plot or event.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "climax" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "climax"
-max sounds
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