How to pronounce slam
Say it like SLAM. Slam 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 slam. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SLAM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Slam pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SLAMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of slam
American and British speakers say slam in essentially the same way: /slæm/ in the US and /slæm/ in the UK.
British respelling: SLAM.
What does slam mean?
- close violently“He slammed the door shut”
- strike violently“slam the ball”
- dance the slam dance
- winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge
- the noise made by the forceful impact of two objects
- a forceful impact that makes a loud noise
Where does slam come from?
From Middle English *slammen (not recorded), apparently from a Scandinavian source ultimately from Old Norse slæma, slœma (“to slam, swing a weapon, strike an object out of reach”), related to Old Norse slamra, slambra (“to slam”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with slam
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of slam.
Questions about saying slam
How do you pronounce slam?
Say SLAM. The American pronunciation is /slæm/. In British English it is /slæm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in slam?
Slam is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SLAM.
Do Americans and Brits say slam the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /slæm/ and the British form is /slæm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.