How to Pronounce Um

To pronounce "um", say UM — one syllable. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

um

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

2

Letters

UM

Say it like

💡 Tip for remembering “um”

"um" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with thrum and glum, if that helps it stick.

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

What does um mean?

interjection

  1. An expression used to show contentment for something

    “Mmm, this is a tasty pie!”

  2. An expression used to show thought or reflection

    “Mmm, I see what you mean.”

verb

  1. To make the um sound to express uncertainty or hesitancy.

interjection

  1. Expression of hesitation, uncertainty or space filler in conversation. See uh.

    “Let’s see... um... how about this?”

Hear “um” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with um

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

thrumglumbumsuccumbhumhumdrumoutcomeovercomeplumbnumbcomeplum

Related words

tiddlekarbakeptreuheruhh

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "um"?▾

"Um" has one syllable.

What does "um" mean?▾

Um: An expression used to show contentment for something

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