How to pronounce cumber
Say it like KUHM-ber. Cumber has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cumber. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUHM
- ber
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cumber pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- berKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of cumber
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KUHM-buh.
What does cumber mean?
- To slow down; to hinder; to burden; to encumber.
- Something that encumbers; a hindrance, a burden.
Where does cumber come from?
From Middle English combren, aphetic form of acombren or encombren, borrowed from Old French encombrer, ultimately either from Latin cumulus or Proto-Celtic *kombereti (“to bring together”), from *kom- + *bereti (“to bear”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with cumber
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cumber.
Questions about saying cumber
How do you pronounce cumber?
Say KUHM-ber. The American pronunciation is /ˈkʌmbɚ/. In British English it is /ˈkʌmbə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cumber?
Cumber has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHM). Broken into parts: KUHM · ber.
Is cumber 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 /ˈkʌmbə/ (KUHM-buh).