How to pronounce opium
Say it like OH-pee-um. Opium has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce opium. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈoʊpiəm/OH-pee-um
UK British/ˈəʊpiəm/OH-pee-um
- OH
- pee
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Opium pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- peeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of opium
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OH-pee-um.
What does opium mean?
noun
- A yellow-brown, addictive narcotic drug obtained from the dried juice of unripe pods of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, and containing alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and papaverine.
- Anything that numbs or stupefies.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying opium
How do you pronounce opium?
Say OH-pee-um. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊpiəm/. In British English it is /ˈəʊpiəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in opium?
Opium has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · pee · um.
Is opium pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈəʊpiəm/ (OH-pee-um).