How to pronounce cofferdam
Say it like KOF-er-dam. Cofferdam has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cofferdam. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOF
- er
- dam
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cofferdam pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- damKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of cofferdam
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOF-uh-dam.
What does cofferdam mean?
- A temporary watertight enclosure used to create a dry foundation for building bridges and other structures over water.
- An empty space that acts as a protective barrier between two floors or bulkheads on a ship.
Where does cofferdam come from?
From coffer + dam. The dental dam sense was introduced in English by dentist Sanford Christie Barnum at New York City in 1864 (by metaphor), but after his century it was maintained only in languages other than English (for example, German K
Questions about saying cofferdam
How do you pronounce cofferdam?
Say KOF-er-dam. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑfɚdæm/. In British English it is /ˈkɒfədæm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cofferdam?
Cofferdam has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOF). Broken into parts: KOF · er · dam.
Is cofferdam pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈkɒfədæm/ (KOF-uh-dam).