How to pronounce conundrum
Say it like kuh-NUHN-drum. Conundrum has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NUHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce conundrum. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- NUHN
- drum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Conundrum pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- drumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of conundrum
American and British speakers say conundrum in essentially the same way: /kəˈnʌndrəm/ in the US and /kəˈnʌndrəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-NUHN-drum.
What does conundrum mean?
- A difficult question or riddle, especially one using a play on words in the answer.
- A difficult choice or decision that must be made.
Where does conundrum come from?
A word of unknown origin with several variants, gaining popularity for its burlesque imitation of scholastic Latin, as hocus-pocus or panjandrum.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying conundrum
How do you pronounce conundrum?
Say kuh-NUHN-drum. The American pronunciation is /kəˈnʌndrəm/. In British English it is /kəˈnʌndrəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in conundrum?
Conundrum has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NUHN). Broken into parts: kuh · NUHN · drum.
Do Americans and Brits say conundrum the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈnʌndrəm/ and the British form is /kəˈnʌndrəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.