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How to Pronounce “dumb”

Free audio in American, British, and Australian English.

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IPA Transcription

American (US)
/dʌm/
British (UK)
/dʌm/

What “dumb” means

adjective — Unable to speak; lacking power of speech.

Example: deaf, dumb, and blind.

Pronunciation Notes

The final b is silent. A b after m at the end of a word is never pronounced in English. “dumb” ends on the /m/ sound, with the mouth closed and no release.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "dumb" mean?

dumb (adjective): Unable to speak; lacking power of speech. For example — deaf, dumb, and blind.

How do you pronounce "dumb" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "dumb", /dʌm/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "dumb"?

/dʌm/ in American English, /dʌm/ in British English.

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