How to pronounce Christmas
Say it like KRIS-mus. Christmas has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Christmas. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KRIS
- mus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Christmas pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KRISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- musKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Christmas
American and British speakers say Christmas in essentially the same way: /ˈkrɪsməs/ in the US and /ˈkrɪsməs/ in the UK.
British respelling: KRIS-mus.
What does Christmas mean?
- period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
- a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland
Words that rhyme with Christmas
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Christmas.
Questions about saying Christmas
How do you pronounce Christmas?
Say KRIS-mus. The American pronunciation is /ˈkrɪsməs/. In British English it is /ˈkrɪsməs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Christmas?
Christmas has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRIS). Broken into parts: KRIS · mus.
Do Americans and Brits say Christmas the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkrɪsməs/ and the British form is /ˈkrɪsməs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.