How to Pronounce Alum

To pronounce "alum", say AL-um — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈæl.əm/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

alum

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying alum, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

2

Syllables

4

Letters

/ˈæl.əm/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “alum”

"alum" has 2 syllables: al-um. It rhymes with thrum and glum, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: allum — easy to mix up when writing.

What does alum mean?

noun

  1. An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form of pale crystals, much used in the dyeing and tanning trade and in certain medicines, and now understood to be a double sulphate of potassium and aluminium (K2SO4·Al2(SO4)3·24H2O).
  2. Any similar double sulphate in which either or both of the potassium and aluminium is wholly or partly replaced by other univalent or tervalent cations.

verb

  1. To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum.

Synonyms

potash alum

Words that rhyme with alum

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

thrumglumbumsuccumbhumhumdrumoutcomeovercomeplumbnumbcomeplum

Related words

gradalumnusalumnagraduatepotashhematoxylin

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "alum"?▾

"Alum" has 2 syllables: al · um.

What is the IPA transcription of "alum"?▾

The IPA transcription of "alum" is /ˈæl.əm/.

What does "alum" mean?▾

Alum: An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form of pale crystals, much used in the dyeing and tanning trade and in certain medicines, and now understood to be a double sulphate of potassium and aluminium (K2SO4·Al2(SO4)3·24H2O).

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “alum” in the full dictionary →