How to pronounce scum
Say it like SKUHM. Scum 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 scum. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKUHM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scum pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of scum
American and British speakers say scum in essentially the same way: /skʌm/ in the US and /skʌm/ in the UK.
British respelling: SKUHM.
What does scum mean?
- worthless people
- a film of impurities or vegetation that can form on the surface of a liquid
- remove the scum from
Where does scum come from?
Cognate with Dutch schuim (“foam”), West Frisian skuum, German Schaum (“foam”), Danish and Swedish skum (“foam”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with scum
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of scum.
Questions about saying scum
How do you pronounce scum?
Say SKUHM. The American pronunciation is /skʌm/. In British English it is /skʌm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scum?
Scum is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SKUHM.
Do Americans and Brits say scum the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /skʌm/ and the British form is /skʌm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.