How to pronounce salmon
Say it like SAM-un. Salmon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAM).
- SAM
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: The l is silent: 'SAM-un'.
Salmon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of salmon
American and British speakers say salmon in essentially the same way: /ˈsæmən/ in the US and /ˈsæmən/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAM-un.
What does salmon mean?
- One of several species of fish, typically of the Salmoninae subfamily, brownish above with silvery sides and delicate pinkish-orange flesh; they ascend rivers to spawn.“grilled salmon”
- A meal or dish made from this fish.
- A pale pinkish-orange colour, the colour of cooked salmon.
- Having a pale pinkish-orange colour.
- To ride a bicycle the wrong way down a one-way street.
Where does salmon come from?
The verb sense “ride a bicycle the wrong way down a one-way street” alludes to salmon swimming upstream against the flow of a river to spawn.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with salmon
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of salmon.
Words that sound like salmon
- salman
Questions about saying salmon
How do you pronounce salmon?
Say SAM-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈsæmən/. In British English it is /ˈsæmən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in salmon?
Salmon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAM). Broken into parts: SAM · un.
Do Americans and Brits say salmon the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsæmən/ and the British form is /ˈsæmən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as salmon?
Salmon sounds the same as salman in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.