How to pronounce welcome
Say it like WEL-kum. Welcome has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce welcome. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WEL
- kum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Welcome pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- kumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of welcome
American and British speakers say welcome in essentially the same way: /ˈwɛlkəm/ in the US and /ˈwɛlkəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: WEL-kum.
What does welcome mean?
- accept gladly“I welcome your proposals”
- bid welcome to; greet upon arrival
- receive someone, as into one's house
- giving pleasure or satisfaction or received with pleasure or freely granted“a welcome relief”“a welcome guest”
- the state of being welcome“don't outstay your welcome”
- a greeting or reception“the proposal got a warm welcome”
Where does welcome come from?
and also in Romance languages, such as Italian benvenuto, Spanish bienvenido, French bienvenu, Catalan benvingut, Portuguese bem-vindo and Romanian bun venit, meaning “[may you have fared] well [in] coming [here]”.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying welcome
How do you pronounce welcome?
Say WEL-kum. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɛlkəm/. In British English it is /ˈwɛlkəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in welcome?
Welcome has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WEL). Broken into parts: WEL · kum.
Do Americans and Brits say welcome the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwɛlkəm/ and the British form is /ˈwɛlkəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.