One syllable: dem.
DEM
/ˈdɛm/
dem is pronounced DEM (/ˈdɛm/). It has one syllable (dem), with the stress on "dem". Dem is a short, unstressed form of the determiner and pronoun them, commonly used in casual speech and connected speech. It functions as a definite indirect object or object pronoun in informal contexts, especially in American English. In careful speech it would be pronounced as two separate sounds /dɛm/ or /dɪm/, but in rapid speech it often reduces to a short, schwa-like vowel or even a syllabic nasal in some dialects.
Dem is a short, unstressed form of the determiner and pronoun them, commonly used in casual speech and connected speech. It functions as a definite indirect object or object pronoun in informal contexts, especially in American English. In careful speech it would be pronounced as two separate sounds /dɛm/ or /dɪm/, but in rapid speech it often reduces to a short, schwa-like vowel or even a syllabic nasal in some dialects.
- You may over-enunciate the vowel, saying /dɛːm/ or /diːm/. To fix: relax your jaw, aim for /dɛm/ or /dəm/ with a quick vowel, not a drawn-out one. - You might insert extra vowel sounds before the /m/, turning it into /dəɛm/ or /diɛm/. Practice by saying it tightly as /dɛm/ in phrases like 'to dem' in careful tempo. - You can confuse it with the clitic of 'them' in fast speech, making it unclear if it means ‘them’ or ‘those’. Practice transitions with a full sentence to keep clarity.
"I gave the books to dem after class."
"Them cats won’t listen to dem—tweak your approach next time."
"If you see dem at the store, tell ’em I called."
In careful speech: /dɛm/ with a clear /d/ stop, a mid-front vowel like /ɛ/ (as in “bed”), and an /m/ at the end. In casual speech you’ll often hear /dəm/ with a reduced vowel (near schwa) and sometimes a slightly nasalized /m/ if the following consonant is strong. Emphasize the /d/ onset, keep the vowel relaxed, and finish with a clean /m/ closure. IPA references: US /dɛm/ or /dəm/; UK /dɛm/ or /dəm/; AU /dɛm/ or /dəm/.
Two common errors are pronouncing it as /deːm/ with a long /eː/ vowel, and over-articulating the vowel as /iː/ in careful speech, yielding /diːm/. Also some speakers insert a strong /ə/ before /m/, producing /dɪəm/. To correct: keep the vowel centralized toward /ɛ/ in careful speech and reduce to a quicker /ə/ or /ɛm/ in fast speech. Practice by alternating /dɛm/ and /dəm/ in phrases.
In US casual speech, /dɛm/ with a relatively tense /ɛ/ is common; some coalesce to /dəm/ in very rapid speech. UK variants often approach /dɛm/ or /dəm/ in informal tones, with slightly longer vowel or more glottal adjustment depending on region. Australian speech typically maintains a quick, relaxed /ə/ or /ɛm/ depending on tempo, with less emphasis on vowel length. The key across all is the reduced vowel in rapid delivery and final /m/ closure.
The challenge lies in balancing speed, vowel reduction, and linked speech. You must manage the interdental affrication of the d, keep the vowel compact (often close to a schwa) in fast speech, and avoid over-enunciating the /ɛ/ in casual contexts. Also watch for rhotic influences that can color vowels slightly in some dialects. Practicing with controlled tempo helps your brain adapt to natural connected speech.
A unique trait is its frequent realization as /dəm/ in rapid, casual speech, where the vowel is reduced toward schwa and the syllable can feel almost monosyllabic. In careful speech, it can be /dɛm/ with a distinct /ɛ/. The ‘d’ onset remains a crisp stop, and the final /m/ is a clean bilabial nasal; sometimes you’ll notice slight nasal damping if spoken with a lot of low-volume background noise or in rapid conversations.
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- US: Maintain a rhotic, fairly pure /ɜː/ or /ɛ/ vowel depending on speaker. /dɛm/ with a clear /ɛ/. - UK: Similar /dɛm/ vowel with slight closer fronting; keep lips relaxed to avoid over-closure. - AU: Lean toward a shorter, more centralized vowel, sometimes approaching /ə/; keep the /m/ closure strong. IPA references: US /dɛm/ or /dəm/, UK /dɛm/ or /dəm/, AU /dɛm/ or /dəm/.
Dem originates as a contracted form of the pronoun them or the determiner those in colloquial English. The word development follows a pattern seen in many unstressed pronoun contractions in informal speech, where full forms are reduced to quick, sonorant-heavy syllables. The 'd' sound emerges from a typical English d-tap phenomenon, while the vowel shifts between /ɛ/ (as in “bet”) and a more centralized vowel due to linking and reduction. Historically, the pronoun them has long appeared as three phonemes /ðɛm/ in careful speech, but rapid speech or assimilation often yields /dɛm/ or even /dɪm/ in some dialects. The determiner those and pronoun them converge in many dialects of American English under casual pronunciation, leading to final forms that reflect speech rhythm and ease of articulation. First known written instances of casual spellings reflecting dem-like pronunciations appear in 19th- and 20th-century American vernacular writing, though the spoken form predates written documentation by centuries. The modern usage is primarily dialectal and colloquial, capturing social identity and informal tone across a wide range of English varieties, with occasional interpretation in media and pop culture as the casual stand-in for the pronoun them or determiner those.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "dem" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "dem" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "dem"
-hem sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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