How to Pronounce “comma”

British (UK)

/ˈkɒmə/

Australian (AU)

/ˈkɔmə/

noun — The punctuation mark ⟨,⟩ used to indicate a set of parts of a sentence or between elements of a list.

Where the stress falls. “comma” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈkɒmə/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈkɒmə/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "comma" mean?

comma (noun): The punctuation mark ⟨,⟩ used to indicate a set of parts of a sentence or between elements of a list.

Which syllable is stressed in "comma"?

“comma” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈkɒmə/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.