TAK-see
/ˈtæksi/
taxi is pronounced TAK-see (/ˈtæksi/). A taxi is a vehicle for hire that transports passengers between locations. In everyday speech, it is a two-syllable word with a primary stress on the first syllable, pronounced with a voiceless /t/ start and a trailing /si/ vowel cluster. It is commonly used in urban contexts, though you may also hear variations in rapid speech or compound forms like 'taxi driver' or 'taxi stand.'.
A taxi is a vehicle for hire that transports passengers between locations. In everyday speech, it is a two-syllable word with a primary stress on the first syllable, pronounced with a voiceless /t/ start and a trailing /si/ vowel cluster. It is commonly used in urban contexts, though you may also hear variations in rapid speech or compound forms like 'taxi driver' or 'taxi stand.'
- You often mispronounce the first syllable by using a longer vowel or an overextended /æ/ in quick speech. Tip: keep /æ/ short and crisp; you should be able to say /ˈtæk/ clearly before moving to /si/. - The transition from /k/ to /si/ can blur in rapid speech; you might unintentionally connect them as /ksɪ/ or /ksi/; practice with isolation and then in a phrase to reinforce the /k/ release before /si/. - In fast environments, English learners may merge the two syllables or reduce the second to /iː/ or /ɪ/; aim for two distinct segments /ˈtæk.si/ even when talking quickly.
"I hailed a taxi to the airport after the meeting."
"The taxi fare was calculated by the meter and included tolls."
"She asked the taxi to wait while she grabbed her bag."
You pronounce it two syllables: ta-xy. The primary stress is on the first syllable: /ˈtæk.si/. The 'ta' sounds like 'tack' but with a quick, light release, and the 'xi' sounds like 'see' without a long vowel, so it’s /ˈtæk.si/. In connected speech, you may hear it as /ˈtæksi/ with a reduced vowel in close, depending on accent. Listen for the crisp alveolar /t/ and the clear /æ/ before the /k/ cluster leading into /si/.
Common mistakes include initials: mispronouncing the first syllable as /tæks/ with a heavier vowel, or blending the two syllables into /tæksi/ with an unstressed second syllable. Another frequent error is pronouncing the second syllable as /zaɪ/ or /zi/ with a long vowel; keep it short and crisp: /si/. To correct, emphasize the short /æ/ in the first syllable, ensure an unvoiced /k/ before /s/ and /i/, and keep the second syllable digitized as /si/ rather than attempting to elongate the vowel.
In US English, /ˈtæk.si/ with a flatter mid /æ/ and a crisp /k/ before /si/. UK English uses a similar pattern but can feature a slightly tenser /æ/ and more pronounced vowel length on the first syllable in careful speech. Australian English often shifts toward a slightly more centralized vowel in the second syllable and might exhibit a more relaxed 'i' in /si/, occasionally sounding /ˈtæksi/ with subtle vowel reduction. The rhotics aren’t central here as there is no rhotic vowel; the key differences lie in vowel quality and rhythm.
Two main challenges anchor taxi pronunciation: first-syllable vowel quality /æ/ must stay short and crisp before the hard /k/; second, the /si/ cluster must avoid a drawn-out vowel, which is easy to do in fast speech. The transition from /k/ to /s/ is a quick, unvoiced step; keeping the /k/ release distinct helps clarity. The word also tests learners’ ability to maintain two distinct syllables in rapid connected speech. Practicing with minimal pairs helps reinforce the two-syllable rhythm.
A distinctive query angle is focusing on the two-syllable structure with stress on the first: /ˈtæk.si/. People also search for 'taxi pronunciation US vs UK' or 'how to say taxi quickly'. Emphasize the crisp /t/ onset and the short /æ/ vowel, followed by a light /si/; these precise phonemes are what users typically seek guidance on when comparing dialects and when practicing for clear, hotel, or aviation contexts.
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- US: emphasize rhotacized or non-rhotics? taxi is non-rhotic; focus on clear /t/ + /æ/ + /k/ + /si/; IPA /ˈtæk.si/. - UK: maintain a slightly tenser first vowel; avoid turning /æ/ into /eɪ/ or /e/; keep /ˈtæk.si/. - AU: more centralized vowel in second syllable; keep /si/ crisp, but the /æ/ can be a touch more open; maintain the two-syllable rhythm with a shorter second vowel.
The word taxi comes from the French taximètre, itself from taxer (to tax, charge) and the Greek prefix taxi- meaning order or arrangement in the sense of a meter or tariff. The broader concept of a taxicab emerged in the late 19th century as mechanized public transport expanded; the term was reinforced by the advent of taximeters, devices that calculate fare based on distance and time. Early references appear in European languages in the 1890s as motorized carriages were first commercialized. The English form taxi, borrowed via French usage, solidified in global English through the 20th century as motor taxi services proliferated in cities. Over time the compound taxicab (taxi + cab) also gained traction, though taxi remains the dominant singleton form in most varieties of English. The term is now universally understood across dialects, often accompanied by local variants such as taxi meter, cab, or hackney in some regions. First known uses align with the growth of meter-based urban transit, with published instances in newspapers and transportation manuals as early as the 1900s. The evolution reflects a shift from horse-drawn cabs to motorized taxis, a change that necessitated standardized terminology in timetables, signage, and fare systems.
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Help others use "taxi" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "taxi" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "taxi" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "taxi"
-axy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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