How to pronounce cement
Say it like suh-MENT. Cement has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MENT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cement. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- suh
- MENT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Stress the second syllable: 'sih-MENT'.
Cement pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- MENTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of cement
American and British speakers say cement in essentially the same way: /səˈmɛnt/ in the US and /sɪˈmɛnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: sih-MENT.
What does cement mean?
- concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement“they stood on the grey cement beside the pool”
- a building material that is a powder made of a mixture of calcined limestone and clay; used with water and sand or gravel to make concrete and mortar
- something that hardens to act as adhesive material
- make fast as if with cement“We cemented our friendship”
- cover or coat with cement
- bind or join with or as if with cement
Where does cement come from?
From Middle English syment, cyment, from Old French ciment, from Latin caementum (“quarry stone; stone chips for making mortar”), from caedō (“to cut, hew”).
Words that rhyme with cement
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cement.
Questions about saying cement
How do you pronounce cement?
Say suh-MENT. The American pronunciation is /səˈmɛnt/. In British English it is /sɪˈmɛnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cement?
Cement has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MENT). Broken into parts: suh · MENT.
Do Americans and Brits say cement the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /səˈmɛnt/ and the British form is /sɪˈmɛnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.