How to pronounce summer
Say it like SUHM-er. Summer has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce summer. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUHM
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Summer pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of summer
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SUHM-uh.
What does summer mean?
- the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox“they spent a lazy summer at the shore”
- the period of finest development, happiness, or beauty“the golden summer of his life”
- spend the summer“We summered in Kashmir”
Where does summer come from?
Cognate with Scots somer, sumer, simer, West Frisian simmer, Saterland Frisian Suumer, Dutch zomer, Low German Sommer, German Sommer, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål sommer, Swedish sommar, Norwegian Nynorsk and Icelandic sumar; Welsh haf, Arme
Words that rhyme with summer
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of summer.
Questions about saying summer
How do you pronounce summer?
Say SUHM-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈsʌmɚ/. In British English it is /ˈsʌmə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in summer?
Summer has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHM). Broken into parts: SUHM · er.
Is summer pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈsʌmə/ (SUHM-uh).