How to pronounce extreme
Say it like ek-STREEM. Extreme has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STREEM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce extreme. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ek
- STREEM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Extreme pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ekKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- STREEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of extreme
American and British speakers say extreme in essentially the same way: /ɛkˈstrim/ in the US and /ɪkˈstriːm/ in the UK.
British respelling: ik-STREEM.
What does extreme mean?
- of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity“extreme cold”“extreme caution”
- far beyond a norm in quantity or amount or degree; to an utmost degree“an extreme example”“extreme temperatures”
- beyond a norm in views or actions“an extreme conservative”“an extreme liberal”
- the furthest or highest degree of something“he carried it to extremes”
- the point located farthest from the middle of something
Where does extreme come from?
Borrowed into late Middle English from Old French extreme, from Latin extrēmus, the superlative of exter.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with extreme
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of extreme.
Questions about saying extreme
How do you pronounce extreme?
Say ek-STREEM. The American pronunciation is /ɛkˈstrim/. In British English it is /ɪkˈstriːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in extreme?
Extreme has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STREEM). Broken into parts: ek · STREEM.
Do Americans and Brits say extreme the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɛkˈstrim/ and the British form is /ɪkˈstriːm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.