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How to Pronounce “thumb”

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IPA Transcription

American (US)
/ˈθʌm/
British (UK)
/ˈθʌm/

What “thumb” means

noun — The shortest and thickest digit of the hand that for humans has the most mobility and can be made to oppose (moved to touch) all of the other fingers.

Pronunciation Notes

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "thumb" mean?

thumb (noun): The shortest and thickest digit of the hand that for humans has the most mobility and can be made to oppose (moved to touch) all of the other fingers.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "thumb", /ˈθʌm/, 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 "thumb"?

/ˈθʌm/ in American English, /ˈθʌm/ in British English.

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