How to pronounce rum
Say it like RUHM. Rum is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- RUHM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rum pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of rum
American and British speakers say rum in essentially the same way: /rʌm/ in the US and /rʌm/ in the UK.
British respelling: RUHM.
What does rum mean?
- liquor distilled from fermented molasses
- a card game based on collecting sets and sequences; the winner is the first to meld all their cards
- beyond or deviating from the usual or expected“a curious hybrid accent”“her speech has a funny twang”
Where does rum come from?
* that it derives from rum ("fine, good") or from the last syllable of Latin saccharum (given the harsh taste of earlier rum, this origin is now considered unlikely)
Words that rhyme with rum
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rum.
Questions about saying rum
How do you pronounce rum?
Say RUHM. The American pronunciation is /rʌm/. In British English it is /rʌm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rum?
Rum is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: RUHM.
Do Americans and Brits say rum the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rʌm/ and the British form is /rʌm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.