How to pronounce flam
Say it like FLAM. Flam is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- FLAM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Flam pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FLAMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of flam
American and British speakers say flam in essentially the same way: /flæm/ in the US and /flæm/ in the UK.
British respelling: FLAM.
What does flam mean?
- A freak or whim; an idle fancy.
- Two taps (a grace note followed by a full-volume tap) played very close together in order to sound like one slightly longer note.
- To play (notes as) a flam.
Where does flam come from?
17th century; from flim-flam, itself perhaps from a dialectal word or Scandinavian; compare Old Norse flim (“lampoon, mockery”).
Words that rhyme with flam
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of flam.
Questions about saying flam
How do you pronounce flam?
Say FLAM. The American pronunciation is /flæm/. In British English it is /flæm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in flam?
Flam is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FLAM.
Do Americans and Brits say flam the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /flæm/ and the British form is /flæm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.