How to pronounce calm
Say it like KAHM. Calm is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- KAHM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Most speakers drop the l and say 'kahm'. A soft l is also heard in parts of the US.
Calm pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of calm
American and British speakers say calm in essentially the same way: /kɑm/ in the US and /kɑːm/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAHM.
What does calm mean?
- Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.
- Free of noise and disturbance.
- with few or no waves on the surface; not rippled.
- The state of being calm; peacefulness; absence of worry, anger, fear or other strong negative emotion.
- The state of being calm; absence of noise and disturbance.
- The absence of wind; a period of time without wind.
- To make calm.
- To become calm.
Where does calm come from?
Displaced native Middle English smilte (“quiet, still, gentle”) from Old English smylte (“quiet, tranquil, calm, serene”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with calm
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of calm.
Words that sound like calm
Questions about saying calm
How do you pronounce calm?
Say KAHM. The American pronunciation is /kɑm/. In British English it is /kɑːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in calm?
Calm is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KAHM.
Do Americans and Brits say calm the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kɑm/ and the British form is /kɑːm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as calm?
Calm sounds the same as com, comm in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.