How to pronounce oom
Say it like UUM. Oom 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 oom. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UUM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oom pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- UUMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of oom
American and British speakers say oom in essentially the same way: /ʊm/ in the US and /ʊm/ in the UK.
British respelling: UUM.
What does oom mean?
- An older man, especially an uncle. (Frequently as a respectful form of address.)
Where does oom come from?
Borrowed from Afrikaans oom.
Questions about saying oom
How do you pronounce oom?
Say UUM. The American pronunciation is /ʊm/. In British English it is /ʊm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oom?
Oom is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: UUM.
Do Americans and Brits say oom the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ʊm/ and the British form is /ʊm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.