How to Pronounce Vacuum

To pronounce "vacuum", say VAC-uum — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈvækjum/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

vacuum

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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2

Syllables

6

Letters

/ˈvækjum/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/vˈækjuːm/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “vacuum”

Break "vacuum" into 2 beats and lean on "VAC" — that's the stressed one.

What does vacuum mean?

noun

  1. A region of space that contains no matter.
  2. The condition of rarefaction, or reduction of pressure below that of the atmosphere, in a vessel, such as the condenser of a steam engine, which is nearly exhausted of air or steam, etc.

verb

  1. To clean (something) with a vacuum cleaner.
  2. To use a vacuum cleaner.

Keep practicing

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Sounds worth drilling for a word spelled like this:

/v/ — v/ə/ — schwa/æ/ — short a

Read next: How to Read IPA: The Phonetic Alphabet Made Simple

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "vacuum"?▾

To pronounce "vacuum", say VAC-uum — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈvækjum/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

How many syllables are in "vacuum"?▾

"Vacuum" has 2 syllables: vac · uum.

What is the IPA transcription of "vacuum"?▾

The IPA transcription of "vacuum" is /ˈvækjum/.

What does "vacuum" mean?▾

Vacuum: A region of space that contains no matter.

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