How to pronounce dumb
Say it like DUHM. Dumb 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 dumb. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DUHM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dumb pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of dumb
American and British speakers say dumb in essentially the same way: /dʌm/ in the US and /dʌm/ in the UK.
British respelling: DUHM.
What does dumb mean?
- slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity“so dense he never understands anything I say to him”“never met anyone quite so dim”
- temporarily incapable of speaking“struck dumb”“speechless with shock”
- lacking the power of human speech“dumb animals”
Where does dumb come from?
Cognate with Scots dumb (“dumb, silent”), North Frisian dom, domme (“dumb, stupid”), West Frisian dom (“dumb, stupid”), Dutch dom (“dumb, stupid”), German dumm (“dumb, stupid”), Danish dum (“stupid”), Swedish dum (“stupid”), Icelandic dumbur (“dumb, mute”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with dumb
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dumb.
Questions about saying dumb
How do you pronounce dumb?
Say DUHM. The American pronunciation is /dʌm/. In British English it is /dʌm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dumb?
Dumb is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DUHM.
Do Americans and Brits say dumb the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʌm/ and the British form is /dʌm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.