How to pronounce cramp
Say it like KRAMP. Cramp is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cramp. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KRAMP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cramp pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KRAMPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of cramp
American and British speakers say cramp in essentially the same way: /kræmp/ in the US and /kræmp/ in the UK.
British respelling: KRAMP.
What does cramp mean?
- A painful contraction of a muscle which cannot be controlled; (sometimes) a similar pain even without noticeable contraction.“He retired hurt at 31 due to a leg cramp.”
- That which confines or contracts.
- A clamp for carpentry or masonry.
- (of a muscle) To contract painfully and uncontrollably.
- To affect with cramps or spasms.
- To prohibit movement or expression of.“You're cramping my style.”
Where does cramp come from?
From Middle English crampe, from Old French crampe (“cramp”), from Frankish *krampa (“cramp”), from Proto-West Germanic *krampu, from Proto-Germanic *krampō (“cramp, clasp”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with cramp
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cramp.
Questions about saying cramp
How do you pronounce cramp?
Say KRAMP. The American pronunciation is /kræmp/. In British English it is /kræmp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cramp?
Cramp is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KRAMP.
Do Americans and Brits say cramp the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kræmp/ and the British form is /kræmp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.