How to pronounce pumpkin
Say it like PUHMP-kin. Pumpkin has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUHMP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pumpkin. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUHMP
- kin
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pumpkin pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PUHMPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- kinKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of pumpkin
American and British speakers say pumpkin in essentially the same way: /ˈpʌmpkɪn/ in the US and /ˈpʌmpkɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: PUHMP-kin.
What does pumpkin mean?
- a coarse vine widely cultivated for its large pulpy round orange fruit with firm orange skin and numerous seeds; subspecies of Cucurbita pepo include the summer squashes and a few autumn squashes
- usually large pulpy deep-yellow round fruit of the squash family maturing in late summer or early autumn
Where does pumpkin come from?
The automotive sense is by fancied resemblance.
Words that rhyme with pumpkin
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pumpkin.
Questions about saying pumpkin
How do you pronounce pumpkin?
Say PUHMP-kin. The American pronunciation is /ˈpʌmpkɪn/. In British English it is /ˈpʌmpkɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pumpkin?
Pumpkin has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUHMP). Broken into parts: PUHMP · kin.
Do Americans and Brits say pumpkin the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpʌmpkɪn/ and the British form is /ˈpʌmpkɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.