2 syllables: Col, umn. Stress on Col.
KAH-luhm
/ˈkɑləm/
Column is pronounced KAH-luhm (/ˈkɑləm/). It has two syllables (Col-umn), with the stress on "Col". Column is a vertical stack or list, often used to organize information in writing or architecture. It can also refer to a vertical architectural support or pillar. In computing, a column is a field in a database or table. The term conveys structure, alignment, and support across contexts.
nounColumn is a vertical stack or list, often used to organize information in writing or architecture. It can also refer to a vertical architectural support or pillar. In computing, a column is a field in a database or table. The term conveys structure, alignment, and support across contexts.
"The spreadsheet shows a column of data with values in ascending order."
"Architects chose a fluted column to support the entrance façade."
"In the article, each column presents a separate argument."
Column is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈkɒl əm/ in British and American variants. The primary stress is on the first syllable COL-, followed by a soft, unstressed -umn reduced to /-əm/. When speaking, keep the /l/ clear and avoid an intrusive vowel between /l/ and /ə/. Listener-clarity comes from the crisp /l/ and the light, clipped second syllable. Audio references include standard pronouncing dictionaries and resources like Pronounce or Forvo for native cadence practice.
Common errors include treating it as two full syllables with a strong second vowel: COL-UMN, or saying COL-LOOM with a long /u:/, which changes meaning. Another mistake is not reducing the second syllable to /əm/, making it sound like ‘column’ with a pronounced /m/ after /l/. Correct approach: /ˈkɒl.əm/ or /ˈkɒl.ən/ depending on speaker. Emphasize the first syllable, relax the second to a quick, neutral schwa-like /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on accent, and keep the /l/ clear.
In US English, /ˈkɑːləm/ or /ˈkɒləm/ with a broad short 'o' in the first syllable; Australian and British often maintain a short /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ depending on region, leading to /ˈkɒl.ən/ or /ˈkɔːlˌm/? but standard is /ˈkɒl.əm/. Rhotic American speech may show a slightly more pronounced /ɹ/ in connected speech, while non-rhotic UK/AU tends to drop postconsonantal r and keep a shorter /ə/ or /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Overall, the first syllable remains stressed with a clear /l/; the second syllable vowels vary, often reduced to /ə/ in fast speech.
The difficulty centers on the unstressed second syllable /-ən/ or /-əm/, which requires vowel reduction that many learners overpronounce. The sequence /l/ plus a light vowel can create a blending challenge, especially for speakers whose first language uses a more prominent second syllable or different vowel system. Additionally, keeping the crisp /l/ without coalescing into a vowel, and maintaining a stable stress on the initial syllable in rapid speech, makes it tricky in connected speech. Practice helps you detect and correct these subtle shifts.
A column in a spreadsheet may be pronounced the same, but in some technical contexts, you might emphasize the term as COL-umn when referring to a data column in contrast to a row. The nuance lies in context: in architecture, you might envision a corporate, structural pillar and maintain a crisp /l/, whereas in data speak you rely on clear, rapid syllable transition to /ˈkɒl.ən/ to avoid confusion with ‘colon,’ which is a different structure in writing and anatomy. Use minimal pairs to solidify the distinction.
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Column derives from the Old French colonne, ultimately from Latin columna ‘a small pillar, a column,’ which itself comes from classical Latin columna meaning ‘a post, stake, pillar.’ The Latin term likely originates from or is influenced by a Greek root kolúlla, related to a vertical structure. In Latin, columna referred to a vertical shaft or upright support, and the sense broadened to the architectural feature we recognize in Renaissance and classical buildings. In English, the word began appearing in the 14th century with meanings tied to architectural supports and freestanding pillars, and later extended metaphorically to vertical arrangements in writing and data contexts. Over time, column came to denote both physical columns and abstract tabular columns in databases and spreadsheets, maintaining the core sense of a vertical, orderly element that provides support, alignment, or categorization. The term has maintained consistency across disciplines, with slight shifts in nuance—architectural pillar, page-aligned vertical lists in print media, and data table columns in computing—yet all share the central idea of a structured, upright entity that organizes or supports content.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Column" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Column" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Column"
-own sounds
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