How to pronounce plumb
Say it like PLUHM. Plumb 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 plumb. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PLUHM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Plumb pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PLUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of plumb
American and British speakers say plumb in essentially the same way: /plʌm/ in the US and /plʌm/ in the UK.
British respelling: PLUHM.
What does plumb mean?
- In a vertical direction; perpendicularly.
- Squarely, directly; deeply, completely.“It hit him plumb in the middle of his face.”
- A little mass of lead, or the like, attached to a line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical direction.
- A weight on the end of a long line, used by sailors to determine the depth of water.
- The perpendicular direction or position.
- Truly vertical, as indicated by a plumb line.
- Describing an LBW where the batsman is hit on the pads directly in front of their wicket and should be given out.
Where does plumb come from?
From Middle English plumbe, plumme, from Old French *plombe, from Latin plumba, plural of plumbum.
Words that rhyme with plumb
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of plumb.
Words that sound like plumb
Questions about saying plumb
How do you pronounce plumb?
Say PLUHM. The American pronunciation is /plʌm/. In British English it is /plʌm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in plumb?
Plumb is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PLUHM.
Do Americans and Brits say plumb the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /plʌm/ and the British form is /plʌm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as plumb?
Plumb sounds the same as plum in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.