How to pronounce decorum
Say it like dih-KOR-um. Decorum has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce decorum. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- KOR
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Decorum pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- KORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of decorum
American and British speakers say decorum in essentially the same way: /dɪˈkɔrəm/ in the US and /dɪˈkɔːrəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-KAW-rum.
What does decorum mean?
- Appropriate social behavior.
- A convention of social behavior.
Where does decorum come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin decōrum, neuter form of decōrus (“proper, decent”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with decorum
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of decorum.
Questions about saying decorum
How do you pronounce decorum?
Say dih-KOR-um. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈkɔrəm/. In British English it is /dɪˈkɔːrəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in decorum?
Decorum has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOR). Broken into parts: dih · KOR · um.
Do Americans and Brits say decorum the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈkɔrəm/ and the British form is /dɪˈkɔːrəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.