How to Pronounce “succumb”

American (US)

/səˈkʌm/

British (UK)

/səˈkʌm/

verb — To yield to an overpowering force or overwhelming desire.

Example: succumb to temptation.

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

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

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /səˈkʌm/ 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 "succumb" mean?

succumb (verb): To yield to an overpowering force or overwhelming desire. For example — succumb to temptation.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "succumb", /səˈkʌm/, 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 "succumb"?

/səˈkʌm/ in American English, /səˈkʌm/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "succumb"?

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