How to Pronounce Homage: The Way You Say It Depends on Who You're Honoring

You’re at a gallery opening. Or maybe you're just watching a video essay on YouTube about The Godfather. Someone mentions a director paying "homage" to a classic noir film, and suddenly, the room splits. One person says OM-ahzh. Another says HOM-ij. You freeze. Which one is it? Honestly, the answer is kind of a mess, but it’s a fascinating mess that tells us exactly how the English language evolves—and why your high school English teacher might have been wrong.

Language isn't a static set of rules carved into a stone tablet. It's more like a living, breathing creature that eats other languages and spits out something new. When we talk about how to pronounce homage, we aren't just talking about phonetics. We're talking about a tug-of-war between French history and English stubbornness.

The Great French Debate: To 'H' or Not to 'H'

If you want to understand why people get so heated over this, you've got to look at the roots. The word comes from the Old French homage, which itself grew out of the Latin homo (man). In the feudal era, a vassal would perform a ceremony to acknowledge himself as his lord's "man."

In French, that "H" is silent. It’s a "mute h." So, if you're trying to sound sophisticated—or if you're a film critic who spends a lot of time at Cannes—you probably lean toward OM-ahzh. This version keeps the French flavor alive. It feels more "artsy." It suggests a level of reverence for the source material.

But then there's the English side of the family.

Middle English didn't care much for French subtleties. For centuries, the standard English pronunciation was HOM-ij. It rhymes with "knowledge" or "cottage." This is the version you’ll find in most traditional dictionaries like Merriam-Webster or the Oxford English Dictionary as a primary or equally valid option. It’s the "anglicized" version. It’s sturdy. It’s direct. It doesn't put on airs.

Why the confusion persists

Is one "more correct" than the other?

Not really.

The American Heritage Dictionary usage panel has tracked this for decades. Historically, the "H-less" French version was actually seen as a bit of an affectation in the United States. In the early 20th century, saying OM-ahzh might have gotten you some side-eye for being "too fancy." However, as film culture and art criticism became more mainstream, the French-style pronunciation surged in popularity.

Nowadays, it's mostly about context.

If you are talking about a feudal lord in a history class, you're almost certainly going to say HOM-ij. "The knight paid homage to the king."
But if you’re talking about Quentin Tarantino’s latest flick? "He’s paying OM-ahzh to 70s cinema."

💡 You might also like: The Recipe Marble Pound Cake Secrets Professional Bakers Don't Usually Share

Breaking Down the Phonetics

Let's get into the nitty-gritty of the sounds. If you're going with the anglicized version—the one that starts with an H—you're looking at /ˈhɒmɪdʒ/.

Break that down:

• HOM: Just like the first part of "hominy" or "home" (but with a short 'o').
• IDJ: Like the end of "bridge."

It’s quick. It’s punchy. You hit the "H" hard.

Now, look at the French-inspired version: /oʊˈmɑːʒ/.

• OM: Think "om" in meditation or the first part of "omnivore."
• AHZH: This is the tricky part. It’s a soft "zh" sound, like the "s" in "pleasure" or "measure."

You might also hear a middle-ground version: HOM-ahzh. This is where you keep the "H" but use the "ahzh" ending. It’s basically the linguistic equivalent of wearing a tuxedo with sneakers. It’s a bit of a hybrid. Some people hate it. Some people use it without thinking.

The "An" vs "A" Problem

Here is where the pronunciation actually affects your writing.

Because some people drop the "H" and some don't, you'll see "a homage" and "an homage" used interchangeably in books and articles. It drives editors crazy. If you pronounce it OM-ahzh, you should technically write "an homage." If you pronounce it HOM-ij, you write "a homage."

According to the Associated Press Stylebook and The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage, the general rule is to follow the sound, not the letter. Since the "H" is becoming more common again in standard American English, "a homage" is gaining ground. But "an homage" still feels more natural to people who grew up in the theater or art worlds.

Does Geography Matter?

Absolutely.

In the UK, the "H" is generally sounded. If you walk into a pub in London and start talking about OM-ahzh, people might think you’re being a bit "posh" or trying too hard. The British English standard has leaned heavily on HOM-ij for a long time.

📖 Related: Why the Man Black Hair Blue Eyes Combo is So Rare (and the Genetics Behind It)

In the United States, we’re a bit more schizophrenic about it.

The US has a strange relationship with French loanwords. We say "herb" without the H (unlike the Brits), but we say "hotel" with a very strong H. Homage is caught in the middle. Data from the Cambridge English Corpus shows that in American media, the French-style OM-ahzh is actually more frequent when discussing creative works, while the traditional HOM-ij stays dominant in legal and historical contexts.

How to Choose Your Pronunciation

You don't want to sound like you're trying too hard, but you also don't want to sound uneducated. It’s a tightrope.

Honestly, the best advice is to read the room. If you’re at a comic book convention and someone talks about a "tribute" or an "homage" to Stan Lee, see what they do. If you're in a high-level academic setting, either is fine, but consistency is key. Don't switch back and forth in the same sentence. That just makes it look like you don't know what you're doing.

Think about the vibe you want to project.

• Use HOM-ij if you want to sound grounded, historical, or traditional. It's safe. It's never "wrong."
• Use OM-ahzh if you’re talking about high art, fashion, or cinema. It fits the aesthetic. It signals that you know the cultural weight of the word.

Common Misconceptions and Mistakes

One of the biggest mistakes people make isn't actually the "H"—it's the end of the word.

Some people try to make it sound too French and end up saying something that sounds like "oh-MAW-gee." That’s just not a thing. Don't do that.

Another weird one is the "home-age" pronunciation. This sounds like "home" plus "age." It’s a common phonetic guess for people who have only ever seen the word written down. If you say "home-age," you're going to get corrected. It’s the only version that is definitively considered an error by almost every linguist and lexicographer.

Expert Opinion: Bryan Garner

Bryan Garner, the author of Garner's Modern English Usage, notes that while both are acceptable, there is a "language change" in progress. He suggests that the "H" version is the traditional one in English, but the Frenchified version has become so prevalent in the last fifty years that it has essentially "won" in the world of the arts. He categorizes the choice as a matter of "style" rather than "correctness."

Actionable Steps for Mastering the Word

If you're still nervous about saying it out loud, here is a quick cheat sheet for your next conversation.

👉 See also: Chuck E. Cheese in Boca Raton: Why This Location Still Wins Over Parents

First, decide on your "H" strategy. If you usually say "an herb," you’re probably someone who prefers the French-influenced style. Go with OM-ahzh. If you say "a herb" (which is rare in the US but common elsewhere), you’re an "H" person. Stick with HOM-ij.

Second, practice the "zh" sound. It’s the most sophisticated part of the word. Practice saying "leisure" or "mirage." Once you get that soft, vibrating sound down, the rest of the word falls into place.

Third, watch for the context. If you're writing it down, check your preceding article.

• "The film is a homage..." (Sounds like HOM-ij)
• "The film is an homage..." (Sounds like OM-ahzh)

Consistency in your writing will signal to your reader that your pronunciation is a choice, not an accident.

Ultimately, the goal of language is to be understood. If you say either version clearly, people will know what you mean. The "war" over how to pronounce homage is mostly a game of social signaling. Don't let it stress you out. Whether you’re paying tribute to a great master or just trying to get through a presentation, choose the version that feels most natural to your own voice and stick with it.

The most important thing isn't the "H"—it's the respect you're trying to show. Keep that in mind, and you’ll be fine.

Next time you’re in a debate about it, you can drop the fact that the word actually shares a root with "homicide" (both from homo). That usually shuts down the pronunciation argument pretty quickly and shifts the conversation to something much more interesting.

Stop worrying about the "right" way. Start focusing on the "your" way. The dictionary has your back either way.

Practical Summary Table of Usage

Just remember: avoid "home-age" like the plague. It's the only real trap in the building. Everything else is just flavor. Stick to your guns, speak clearly, and you've already won the battle. You've got the history, the phonetics, and the expert backing to say it however you please.