How to pronounce Selma
Say it like SEL-muh. Selma has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Selma. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEL
- muh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Selma pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Selma
American and British speakers say Selma in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛlmə/ in the US and /ˈsɛlmə/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEL-muh.
What does Selma mean?
- a town in central Alabama on the Alabama river; in 1965 it was the center of a drive to register Black voters
Questions about saying Selma
How do you pronounce Selma?
Say SEL-muh. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛlmə/. In British English it is /ˈsɛlmə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Selma?
Selma has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEL). Broken into parts: SEL · muh.
Do Americans and Brits say Selma the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛlmə/ and the British form is /ˈsɛlmə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.