How to pronounce tom
Say it like TOM. Tom 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 tom. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TOM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tom pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TOMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of tom
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: TOM.
What does tom mean?
- male cat
- male turkey
Where does tom come from?
From generic use of the proper name Tom.
Words that rhyme with tom
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tom.
Questions about saying tom
How do you pronounce tom?
Say TOM. The American pronunciation is /tɑm/. In British English it is /tɒm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tom?
Tom is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TOM.
Is tom pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /tɒm/ (TOM).