How to pronounce caramel
Say it like KER-uh-mul. Caramel has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KER).
- KER
- uh
- mul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Americans say 'KAR-mul' or 'KAIR-uh-mel'. The British version keeps three syllables.
Caramel pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- mulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of caramel
American and British speakers say caramel in essentially the same way: /ˈkɛrəməl/ in the US and /ˈkærəmɛl/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAR-uh-mel.
What does caramel mean?
- A smooth, chewy, sticky confection made by heating sugar and other ingredients until the sugars polymerize and become sticky.
- A (sometimes hardened) piece of this confection.
- A yellow-brown color, like that of caramel.
- Of a yellow-brown color.
- To caramelize.
Where does caramel come from?
Borrowed from French caramel, from Spanish caramelo, from Portuguese caramelo, dissimilated from Late Latin calamellus, diminutive of calamus (“reed”) (and a doublet of chalumeau and shawm).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- caramelized sugar
- yellowish brown
- raw sienna
- buff
- caramel brown
Questions about saying caramel
How do you pronounce caramel?
Say KER-uh-mul. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɛrəməl/. In British English it is /ˈkærəmɛl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in caramel?
Caramel has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KER). Broken into parts: KER · uh · mul.
Do Americans and Brits say caramel the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkɛrəməl/ and the British form is /ˈkærəmɛl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.