How to pronounce combat
Say it like KAHM-bat. Combat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAHM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce combat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAHM
- bat
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Combat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- batKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of combat
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOM-bat.
Other ways to say combat
Combat also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- kum-BAT /kəmˈbæt/
What does combat mean?
- an engagement fought between two military forces
- the act of fighting; any contest or struggle“a fight broke out at the hockey game”“there was fighting in the streets”
- battle or contend against in or as if in a battle“The Kurds are combating Iraqi troops in Northern Iraq”“We must combat the prejudices against other races”
Where does combat come from?
16th century, borrowed from Middle French combat, deverbal from Old French combatre, from Vulgar Latin *combattere, from Latin com- (“with”) + battuere (“to beat, strike”).
Words that rhyme with combat
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of combat.
Questions about saying combat
How do you pronounce combat?
Say KAHM-bat. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑmbæt/. In British English it is /ˈkɒmˌbæt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in combat?
Combat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAHM). Broken into parts: KAHM · bat.
Is combat 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 /ˈkɒmˌbæt/ (KOM-bat).