How to pronounce alluvium
Say it like al-OO-vee-um. Alluvium has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce alluvium. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- al
- OO
- vee
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Alluvium pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- alGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- OOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- veeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of alluvium
American and British speakers say alluvium in essentially the same way: /ˌæˈluviəm/ in the US and /ˌæˈluːviəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: al-OO-vee-um.
What does alluvium mean?
- soil, clay, silt or gravel deposited by flowing water, as it slows, in a river bed, delta, estuary or flood plain
Where does alluvium come from?
From Medieval Latin alluvium (“matter deposited by flowing water”), neuter of alluvius (“deposited by a river”), from Latin alluviō (“washing upon, overflowing”).
Questions about saying alluvium
How do you pronounce alluvium?
Say al-OO-vee-um. The American pronunciation is /ˌæˈluviəm/. In British English it is /ˌæˈluːviəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in alluvium?
Alluvium has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OO). Broken into parts: al · OO · vee · um.
Do Americans and Brits say alluvium the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌæˈluviəm/ and the British form is /ˌæˈluːviəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.