How to pronounce heme
Say it like HEEM. Heme 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 heme. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HEEM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Heme pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HEEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of heme
American and British speakers say heme in essentially the same way: /him/ in the US and /hiːm/ in the UK.
British respelling: HEEM.
What does heme mean?
- The component of hemoglobin (and other hemoproteins) responsible for binding oxygen. It consists of an iron ion that binds oxygen and a porphyrin ring that binds the globin molecules; one molecule binds one molecule of oxygen.
Where does heme come from?
Back-formation from hemoglobin.
Words that rhyme with heme
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of heme.
Questions about saying heme
How do you pronounce heme?
Say HEEM. The American pronunciation is /him/. In British English it is /hiːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in heme?
Heme is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: HEEM.
Do Americans and Brits say heme the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /him/ and the British form is /hiːm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.