How to pronounce mum
Say it like MUHM. Mum 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 mum. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MUHM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mum pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of mum
American and British speakers say mum in essentially the same way: /mʌm/ in the US and /mʌm/ in the UK.
British respelling: MUHM.
What does mum mean?
- failing to speak or communicate etc when expected to“the witness remained silent”
- of China
- informal terms for a mother
- secrecy“mum's the word”
Where does mum come from?
Alternative form of mam, or an abbreviation of mummy.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with mum
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mum.
Questions about saying mum
How do you pronounce mum?
Say MUHM. The American pronunciation is /mʌm/. In British English it is /mʌm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mum?
Mum is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: MUHM.
Do Americans and Brits say mum the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /mʌm/ and the British form is /mʌm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.