How to pronounce stem
Say it like STEM. Stem 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 stem. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STEM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stem pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of stem
American and British speakers say stem in essentially the same way: /stɛm/ in the US and /stɛm/ in the UK.
British respelling: STEM.
What does stem mean?
- (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed“thematic vowels are part of the stem”
- a slender or elongated structure that supports a plant or fungus or a plant part or plant organ
- cylinder forming a long narrow part of something
- grow out of, have roots in, originate in“The increase in the national debt stems from the last war”
- cause to point inward“stem your skis”
- stop the flow of a liquid“staunch the blood flow”“stem the tide”
Where does stem come from?
Not related to English stoma, which is a Greek loan inherited through New Latin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with stem
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stem.
Questions about saying stem
How do you pronounce stem?
Say STEM. The American pronunciation is /stɛm/. In British English it is /stɛm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stem?
Stem is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STEM.
Do Americans and Brits say stem the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /stɛm/ and the British form is /stɛm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.