How to pronounce swarm
Say it like SWORM. Swarm 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 swarm. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SWORM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Swarm pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SWORMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of swarm
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SWAWM.
What does swarm mean?
- A large number of insects or other bugs (e.g. centipedes), especially when in motion or (for bees) migrating to a new colony.
- A mass of people, animals or things in motion or turmoil.“a swarm of meteorites”
- A group of nodes sharing the same torrent in a BitTorrent network.
- To move as a swarm.
- To teem, or be overrun with insects, people, etc.
- To fill a place as a swarm.
Where does swarm come from?
The verb is from Middle English swarmen, swermen, from Old English swirman (“to swarm”), from Proto-West Germanic *swarmijan, from Proto-Germanic *swarmijaną (“to swarm”), from the noun.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with swarm
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of swarm.
Questions about saying swarm
How do you pronounce swarm?
Say SWORM. The American pronunciation is /swɔrm/. In British English it is /swɔːm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in swarm?
Swarm is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SWORM.
Is swarm 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 /swɔːm/ (SWAWM).