How to pronounce beam
Say it like BEEM. Beam is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- BEEM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Beam pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BEEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of beam
American and British speakers say beam in essentially the same way: /bim/ in the US and /biːm/ in the UK.
British respelling: BEEM.
What does beam mean?
- Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
- One of the principal horizontal structural members, usually of steel, timber, or concrete, of a building.
- One of the transverse members of a ship's frame on which the decks are laid, and acting as part of the support for keeping the sides of the vessel in shape, supported at the sides by knees in wooden ships and by stringers in steel ones; cf. abeam, beam-ends.
- To emit beams of light; to shine; to radiate.“to beam forth light”
- To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.“to beam with pride”
- To furnish or supply with beams.
Where does beam come from?
The verb is from Middle English bemen, from Old English bēamian (“to shine, to cast forth rays or beams of light”), from the noun.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with beam
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of beam.
Questions about saying beam
How do you pronounce beam?
Say BEEM. The American pronunciation is /bim/. In British English it is /biːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in beam?
Beam is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BEEM.
Do Americans and Brits say beam the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bim/ and the British form is /biːm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.