How to pronounce thumbscrew
Say it like THUHM-skroo. Thumbscrew has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THUHM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce thumbscrew. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- THUHM
- skroo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thumbscrew pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THUHMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- skrooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of thumbscrew
American and British speakers say thumbscrew in essentially the same way: /ˈθʌmskru/ in the US and /ˈθʌmskruː/ in the UK.
British respelling: THUHM-skroo.
What does thumbscrew mean?
- A screw that is designed to be turned with the thumb and fingers, thus requiring no screwdriver or spanner (wrench).
- An instrument of torture used to crush the fingers.
- A weakness that can be taken advantage of.“Law 33: Discover Each Man's Thumbscrew ― Robert Greene, The 48 Laws of Power”
Where does thumbscrew come from?
From thumb + screw.
Questions about saying thumbscrew
How do you pronounce thumbscrew?
Say THUHM-skroo. The American pronunciation is /ˈθʌmskru/. In British English it is /ˈθʌmskruː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thumbscrew?
Thumbscrew has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THUHM). Broken into parts: THUHM · skroo.
Do Americans and Brits say thumbscrew the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈθʌmskru/ and the British form is /ˈθʌmskruː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.