How to pronounce alarm
Say it like uh-LARM. Alarm has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LARM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce alarm. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- LARM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Alarm pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LARMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of alarm
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: uh-LAHM.
What does alarm mean?
- fear resulting from the awareness of danger
- a device that signals the occurrence of some undesirable event
- an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger
- fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised“I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview”“The news of the executions horrified us”
- warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness“The empty house alarmed him”“We alerted the new neighbors to the high rate of burglaries”
Where does alarm come from?
From Middle English alarme, alarom, borrowed from Middle French alarme, itself from Old Italian all'arme!
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with alarm
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of alarm.
Questions about saying alarm
How do you pronounce alarm?
Say uh-LARM. The American pronunciation is /əˈlɑrm/. In British English it is /əˈlɑːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in alarm?
Alarm has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LARM). Broken into parts: uh · LARM.
Is alarm pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /əˈlɑːm/ (uh-LAHM).