How to pronounce flotsam
Say it like FLAHT-sum. Flotsam has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FLAHT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce flotsam. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FLAHT
- sum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Flotsam pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FLAHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- sumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of flotsam
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: FLOT-sum.
What does flotsam mean?
- Debris floating in a river or sea, in particular fragments from a shipwreck.
Where does flotsam come from?
From Anglo-Norman floteson, from Old French flotaison (“a floating”), from floter (“to float”), of Germanic origin (See float.), + -aison, from Latin -atio.
Questions about saying flotsam
How do you pronounce flotsam?
Say FLAHT-sum. The American pronunciation is /ˈflɑtsəm/. In British English it is /ˈflɒtsəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in flotsam?
Flotsam has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FLAHT). Broken into parts: FLAHT · sum.
Is flotsam pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈflɒtsəm/ (FLOT-sum).