How to pronounce limp
Say it like LIMP. Limp 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 limp. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIMP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Limp pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LIMPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of limp
American and British speakers say limp in essentially the same way: /lɪmp/ in the US and /lɪmp/ in the UK.
British respelling: LIMP.
What does limp mean?
- To walk lamely, as if favoring one leg.
- To travel with a malfunctioning system of propulsion.“The bomber limped home on one engine.”
- To move or proceed irregularly.“limping verses”
- Flaccid; flabby, resembling flesh.
- Lacking stiffness; floppy, flimsy.
- Soft; weak, especially physically.
- An irregular, jerky or awkward gait.“She walks with a limp.”
- A scraper for removing poor ore or refuse from the sieve.
Where does limp come from?
Cognate with Low German lumpen (“to limp”), Middle High German limpfen (“to hobble, limp”), dialectal German lampen (“to hang down loosely”), Icelandic limpa (“limpness, weakness”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with limp
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of limp.
Questions about saying limp
How do you pronounce limp?
Say LIMP. The American pronunciation is /lɪmp/. In British English it is /lɪmp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in limp?
Limp is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LIMP.
Do Americans and Brits say limp the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /lɪmp/ and the British form is /lɪmp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.