How to pronounce column
Say it like KOL-um. Column has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOL).
- KOL
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: The n at the end is silent. Say 'KOL-um', not 'KOL-yoom'.
Column pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of column
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOL-um.
What does column mean?
- A solid upright structure designed usually to support a larger structure above it, such as a roof or horizontal beam, but sometimes for decoration.
- A vertical line of entries in a table, usually read from top to bottom.
- A body of troops or army vehicles, usually strung out along a road.
Where does column come from?
From Middle English columne, columpne, columpe, borrowed from Old French columne, from Latin columna (“a column, pillar, post”), originally a collateral form of columen, contraction culmen (“a pillar, top, crown, summit”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with column
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of column.
Questions about saying column
How do you pronounce column?
Say KOL-um. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑləm/. In British English it is /ˈkɒləm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in column?
Column has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOL). Broken into parts: KOL · um.
Is column pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkɒləm/ (KOL-um).