2 syllables: Po, made. Stress on Po.
POH-mayd
/ˈpoʊmeɪd/
Pomade is pronounced POH-mayd (/ˈpoʊmeɪd/). It has two syllables (Po-made), with the stress on "Po". Pomade is a semi-solid hair styling product, traditionally used to shape and hold hair in place with a glossy finish. As a noun, it refers to the substance itself, and in some contexts to a small container of the product. In modern usage, it can also denote any pomade brand or variant. The term emphasizes its styling function and cosmetic application.
nounPomade is a semi-solid hair styling product, traditionally used to shape and hold hair in place with a glossy finish. As a noun, it refers to the substance itself, and in some contexts to a small container of the product. In modern usage, it can also denote any pomade brand or variant. The term emphasizes its styling function and cosmetic application.
- Misplacing stress: You may say PO-made or po-MADE; correct approach: place primary stress on the first syllable, /ˈpoʊˌmeɪd/. - Vowel quality confusion: confuse /oʊ/ with /ɒ/; aim for the long diphthong in the first syllable as in 'go' and then /meɪd/ in the second. - Ending consonant: pronounce a crisp /d/ rather than a soft or silent ending; avoid truncating the final consonant, which makes it sound like 'moe-may'. Practicing with minimal pairs and slow enunciation will help you lock the two-syllable rhythm.
"She slicked back her hair with pomade for the formal event."
"The old barber shop stocked a classic pomade that gave a high-gloss look."
"He bought a new pomade to experiment with a vintage hairstyle effect."
Pomade is pronounced as POH-maid in US English and POME-ayed in more syllabic renderings, with emphasis on the first syllable. In IPA: US /ˈpoʊˌmeɪd/, UK /ˈpɒ.meɪd/, AU /ˈpɒː.meɪd/. Break it into two sounds: 'po' as in 'go' plus a stressed 'made' with a long a. The tongue starts mid-high for /oʊ/ or /ɒ/, then glides to /meɪd/ with a clear /eɪ/ diphthong. Keep the /d/ crisp at the end. For accuracy, think POH- mayd, stressing the first syllable.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress and mispronouncing the second syllable. People often say POE-mad or PO-mayd with a short /æ/ instead of /eɪ/. The correct second syllable uses /eɪ/ (as in 'made'), not a flat /e/ or /æ/. Ensure the /poʊ/ or /ɒ/ vowel in the first syllable is long and rounded; avoid a quick, clipped /po/ without the following /meɪd/. Practice by saying ‘POH-mayyd’ slowly before speeding up.
In US English, /ˈpoʊˌmeɪd/ often has a stronger /oʊ/ and a lighter secondary stress on the second syllable. UK English tends to /ˈpɒ.meɪd/, with a shorter /ɒ/ and clearer /eɪ/; the final /d/ is released. Australian tends to /ˈpɒː.meɪd/ with a longer open /ɒː/ and a similar /meɪd/. Across all variants, the second syllable carries the /eɪ/ diphthong; the primary stress remains on the first syllable, but some speakers subtly adjust vowel quality in connected speech.
The challenge lies in the vowel sequence and the diphthong /oʊ/ or short /ɒ/ depending on accent, followed by a distinct /eɪ/ in the second syllable. The two-syllable rhythm can make the /ˈpoʊ/ or /ˈpɒ/ part merge with /meɪd/, leading to reduced clarity in rapid speech. Misplacing the primary stress or softening the /d/ can also blur the ending. Focus on keeping a clear /oʊ/ or /ɒ/ in the first syllable and a crisp /d/ at the end.
A Pomade-specific nuance is the possibility of slightly lengthening the first vowel in careful, vintage references (e.g., barbershop talk), giving a fuller /oʊ/ or /ɒ/ before the /meɪd/. In careful diction, you might hear an audible glide on the second syllable: /ˈpoʊ.meɪd/ with a clean onset for /m/ and a labeled /eɪ/. Always ensure you don’t reduce the second syllable into a simple /d/ or a voiceless /t/ onset; keep voiced /d/ to retain the word’s traditional rhythm.
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- US: Emphasize /ˈpoʊˌmeɪd/ with a long /oʊ/ in the first syllable and a clear /eɪ/ in the second; keep the /d/ voiced. - UK: /ˈpɒ.meɪd/ with a shorter /ɒ/ and a crisp /meɪd/, optional non-rhoticity on adjacent syllables; ensure no intrusive r. - AU: /ˈpɒː.meɪd/ with a longer /ɒː/ and the same /eɪd/ end; avoid merging vowels; maintain two distinct syllables. Reference IPA in practice and mimic native audio for accuracy.
Pomade derives from the French word pommade, itself from pâte moue (“soft dough” or “kneaded paste”). The sense began as a soft, fatty preparation used for cosmetic or medicinal purposes in the 17th century, frequently containing oils, waxes, and resins. In English, pomade referred to hair-paste used by barbers in the 18th and 19th centuries, often made with pork fat or other animal fats and scented with musk or resin. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the term broadened to include modern hair grooming products with a firmer hold and glossy finish. The product’s branding and chemistry evolved with petroleum distillates and waxes in the 20th century, but the word retained its link to a pliant, malleable paste used to sculpt hair. Modern pomades emphasize shine, hold, and ease of washing out, while the term itself remains tied to its historical roots as a cosmetic grease or paste used in grooming.
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Words that rhyme with "Pomade"
-ade sounds
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