How to pronounce them
Say it like THEM. Them 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 them. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- THEM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Them pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of them
American and British speakers say them in essentially the same way: /ðɛm/ in the US and /ðɛm/ in the UK.
British respelling: THEM.
What does them mean?
- Used as the direct object of a verb.“She treated them for a cold.”
- Used as the indirect object of a verb.“She wrote them a letter.”
- Used as the object of a preposition.“Give it to them.”
- Synonym of they (“a non-binary person”).
Where does them come from?
From Middle English þem, from Old Norse þeim.
Words that rhyme with them
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of them.
Questions about saying them
How do you pronounce them?
Say THEM. The American pronunciation is /ðɛm/. In British English it is /ðɛm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in them?
Them is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: THEM.
Do Americans and Brits say them the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ðɛm/ and the British form is /ðɛm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.