How to pronounce jetsam
Say it like JET-sum. Jetsam has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce jetsam. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JET
- sum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Jetsam pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of jetsam
American and British speakers say jetsam in essentially the same way: /ˈdʒɛtsəm/ in the US and /ˈdʒɛtsəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: JET-sum.
What does jetsam mean?
- Items thrown overboard from a ship or boat in distress in order to lighten its load.“There she was, floating amongst the jetsam, like so much debris.”
- Discarded or leftover odds and ends.“They were the jetsam of the dot-com bust.”
Where does jetsam come from?
From Middle English jetteson, from Anglo-Norman getteson.
Questions about saying jetsam
How do you pronounce jetsam?
Say JET-sum. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒɛtsəm/. In British English it is /ˈdʒɛtsəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in jetsam?
Jetsam has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JET). Broken into parts: JET · sum.
Do Americans and Brits say jetsam the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdʒɛtsəm/ and the British form is /ˈdʒɛtsəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.