Subpoena (noun) is a legal order requiring a person to appear in court or to produce documents. It is pronounced as a two-syllable word with stress on the second syllable; in careful speech it can sound like suh-POA-nuh. It denotes authority to compel attendance or evidence, and appears in civil and criminal proceedings alike.
"The office received a subpoena demanding all relevant emails and memos."
"She was served with a subpoena and had to testify at the trial."
"The company issued a subpoena for the financial records of the executives."
"Without a subpoena, the journalist could not access the confidential documents."
Subpoena comes from the Latin phrase sub poena, literally meaning under penalty. The term entered English legal language via medieval Latin and Old French usage, where sub meant under and poena was penalty or punishment. In law, a subpoena combined two ideas: the obligation before a court and the implied penalty for non-compliance. The phrase first appeared in English in the 15th-16th centuries, often in Latin forms within English legal texts. Over time, the spelling consolidated to Subpoena, with the stress typically on the second syllable in modern English. The word has remained stable in legal usage, though variants like subpoena duces tecum (bring with you the documents) became common in later centuries. Its pronunciation evolved to accommodate English phonology, but the Latin origin is still audible in the two distinct syllables and the final, light schwa. Today, Subpoena is widely recognized in American and Commonwealth legal systems, retaining its Latin roots while conforming to contemporary English stress patterns and vowel qualities.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Subpoena" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Subpoena" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Subpoena" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Subpoena"
-ena sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce it as s-uh-POE-nuh (US) or s-uh-POH-ə-nə (UK/AU). It has three phonemes in the nucleus: /ə/ in the first syllable, /poʊ/ or /pəʊ/ in the second, and /nə/ in the third. The primary stress sits on the second syllable: /səˈpoʊnə/. Tip: keep the second syllable strong but not siren-like; the final /ə/ is light. Audio reference: listen to standard pronunciations on Pronounce, Cambridge or Forvo to compare regional variants.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying su-POE-nuh with the wrong vowel in the middle; 2) Over-articulating the final /ə/ as a full vowel; 3) Tending to pronounce the second syllable as /poʊ/ with an abrupt stop. Corrections: keep the primary stress on the second syllable, slide the middle vowel to a lax /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on accent, and end with a short, unstressed /ə/. Practice with a slow, three-beat rhythm to align the syllables.
In US English, /səˈpoʊnə/ with a rhotic /r/ absent; in many UK varieties, /səˈpəʊənə/ with a tougher central vowel in the first syllable and a longer /əʊ/ in the second; in Australian English, /səˈpɒnə/ or /səˈpəʊənə/ depending on speaker, with non-rhoticity and vowel quality shifts. The middle vowel length and centralization differ: US favors /poʊ/, UK may compress to /pəʊə/; AU often shows broader /ɒ/ or /əʊ/ and flattened final /ə/. Listening across samples helps solidify these shifts.
Three main challenges: 1) The two-syllable rhythm with stress on the second syllable; 2) The middle vowel can be /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on accent, which trips learners; 3) The final, weak /ə/ can be lost or reduced in rapid speech, changing the sound to /ˈpoʊnə/ or /ˈpoʊnə/. Focus on the true middle vowel, keep the final schwa light, and rehearse with minimal pairs to stabilize the pattern.
Some speakers confuse it with police-related terms; in legal contexts you may hear it in the phrase 'serve a subpoena duces tecum' where the /ju/ in tecum is muted, and the 'poe' syllable often lengthened in careful speech. The key is the second syllable’s vowel quality and the light final /ə/. Practice forcing the /ə/ in the final syllable without adding extra emphasis.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Subpoena"!
No related words found
