2 syllables: Con, dom. Stress on Con.
KAHN-duhm
/ˈkɑndəm/
Condom is pronounced KAHN-duhm (/ˈkɑndəm/). It has two syllables (Con-dom), with the stress on "Con". Condom is a noun for a flexible rubber or latex sheath worn over the penis during sexual activity to prevent pregnancy and reduce risk of sexually transmitted infections. It is also used in some contexts as a dampening sleeve for lubrication or as a prophylactic device. The term is common in healthcare, education, and everyday discussion about sexual health in many English-speaking regions.
nounCondom is a noun for a flexible rubber or latex sheath worn over the penis during sexual activity to prevent pregnancy and reduce risk of sexually transmitted infections. It is also used in some contexts as a dampening sleeve for lubrication or as a prophylactic device. The term is common in healthcare, education, and everyday discussion about sexual health in many English-speaking regions.
How to Pronounce Condom
"I always check the expiry date before opening a condom."
"The nurse explained how to use a condom correctly."
"We discussed safer sex and then used a condom just in case."
Condom is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈkɒn.dɒm/ in UK and US English, with primary stress on the first syllable. In many American dialects the first vowel is a rounded short o in ‘con-’ and the second is a short ‘dom’ with a dark 'o' sound. Say CON-dum, focusing on a crisp /k/ release and a short, rounded /ɒ/ in both syllables. Audio references include major dictionaries and language learning platforms that provide native speaker recordings for /ˈkɒndəm/ or /ˈkɒn.dɒm/.
The most common errors are: (1) misplacing the stress, saying con-DOM instead of CON-dum; (2) replacing /ɒ/ with a long /ɒː/ or /ɔ:/ in the first syllable; and (3) slurring the final /m/ or not releasing the /n/ before it. Correction: emphasize the first syllable with /ˈkɒn/ and finish with a short /dəm/, keeping the /d/ and the /m/ crisp and not nasalizing the vowel. Practice with minimal pairs and slow repetition to lock the rhythm.
US and UK both place primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈkɒn.dɒm/ with /ɒ/ like the ‘lot’ vowel in British English. In many American accents the first vowel remains /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ depending on region, giving a slightly different open back vowel. Australian speakers typically maintain /ˈkɒn.dɒm/ but can have a shorter, quicker second syllable and less vowel height distinction. The main differences are vowel quality in /ɒ/ vs /ɒ/ and the rhythm, as well as any regional rhoticity effects influencing the preceding consonant clusters.
Two main factors: the short, clipped vowels /ɒ/ in both syllables and the quick transition from /n/ to /d/ can feel abrupt in rapid speech. Some speakers also devoice the /d/ or merge /dn/ into a single alveolar click, causing a slight blurring. To master it, practice slow, deliberate articulation: /ˈkɒn.dɒm/, then gradually increase speed while keeping a clean /d/ release and no vowel elongation in the second syllable.
In some fast speech, the second syllable may be reduced to a schwa-like sound or the /ɒ/ can be shortened or centralized, yielding something like /ˈkən.dəm/. This is more common in casual speech and non-native speech. The best approach is to keep the full two-syllable form with a clear /ɒ/ in both syllables, ensuring the /d/ remains a crisp, voiced stop. Awareness of this helps you sound natural in everyday conversation.
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Condom enters English through a complex etymological path. The word’s precise origin is debated, with several theories circulating since the 18th century. One popular claim is that it derives from the French condom, possibly from condom (cloth or sleeve), with the sense of a protective covering. Another line traces it to late Latin condomus, meaning ‘a wrapping’ or ‘covering,’ though this derivation is not universally accepted. In the 18th and 19th centuries, condoms were often called ‘sheaths’ or ‘slings’ and were primarily made from linen or animal membranes before the gradual adoption of rubber in the 19th century. The modern latex condom began in the early 20th century, becoming widely available and replacing earlier materials after advances in vulcanization and manufacturing. The term’s usage broadened from medical and military contexts to everyday public health discussions, eventually becoming a standard item in sexual health education globally. First known printed usages appeared in medical literature in the 18th century, but it was in the 19th and 20th centuries that the word gained its current mainstream sense as a protective device for contraception and disease prevention.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Condom" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Condom" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Condom"
-den sounds
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