How to pronounce Durham
Say it like DUR-rum. Durham has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Durham. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DUR
- rum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Durham pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DURSay this part loudest and longest.
- rumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Durham
American and British speakers say Durham in essentially the same way: /ˈdɜrəm/ in the US and /ˈdʌrəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: DUHR-um.
Other ways to say Durham
Durham also has these pronunciations, usually with a different meaning or use:
- DOOR-HAM /ˈdʊrˈhæm/
- DUUR-um /ˈdʊrəm/
What does Durham mean?
- a city of north central North Carolina; site of Duke University
- English breed of short-horned cattle
Questions about saying Durham
How do you pronounce Durham?
Say DUR-rum. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɜrəm/. In British English it is /ˈdʌrəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Durham?
Durham has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DUR). Broken into parts: DUR · rum.
Do Americans and Brits say Durham the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɜrəm/ and the British form is /ˈdʌrəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.