VAH-muht
/ˈvɑmət/
vomit is pronounced VAH-muht (/ˈvɑmət/). Vomit (noun or verb) refers to the act of ejecting stomach contents through the mouth, often as a reflex or reaction to illness, nausea, or discomfort. It can also denote the material that is expelled. The term is clinical in some contexts but commonly used in everyday speech to describe sickness or ill-feelings.
Vomit (noun or verb) refers to the act of ejecting stomach contents through the mouth, often as a reflex or reaction to illness, nausea, or discomfort. It can also denote the material that is expelled. The term is clinical in some contexts but commonly used in everyday speech to describe sickness or ill-feelings.
"He started to feel nauseous and ended up vomiting after lunch."
"The smell made her want to vomit, so she stepped outside for fresh air."
"Doctors told him that persistent vomiting could lead to dehydration."
Pronounced /ˈvɒmɪt/ in UK English and /ˈvɑːmɪt/ in US English. The stress is on the first syllable: VO-mit. The first vowel is a short o sound, followed by a light 'mit' with a short i. Your lips start rounded then relax; the tongue stays low for the first vowel, with a quick, light release on the second syllable.
Common errors include elongating the first vowel (voh-mit) or turning the second syllable into a tense 'mít' instead of a quick brief 'mit'. Another frequent mistake is conflating with 'vomit' vs. 'vomitage' or misplacing stress on the second syllable. To correct: keep the first syllable short and crisp, end with a short, light 't' and a quickly released final 'i' vowel. Use a breathy approach on the first vowel only if comfortable with your native accent.
In US English, /ˈvɑːmɪt/ with a broad back vowel in the first syllable and a reduced second syllable; in UK English, /ˈvɒmɪt/ with a shorter, more open front-vowel in the first syllable; Australian English often aligns closer to UK but with the Australian schwa and overall rhotic pattern, producing /ˈvɒmɪt/ or a slightly more centralized vowel in rapid speech. Regardless, the second syllable stays a short, unstressed /mɪt/ in all varieties.
The challenge lies in producing a precise /v/ at the start, a short /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ depending on accent, followed by a quick, clipped /mɪt/ without letting the second syllable drift or get swallowed. The transition from a bilabial nasal to a velar stop requires careful timing; many speakers merge the /m/ into the following /ɪ/ if not deliberate. Practicing with minimal pairs helps.
One distinctive feature is the strong initial plosive /v/ followed by a short, lax vowel; listeners often focus on the crisp release of /t/ at the end. The word's two-syllable rhythm with primary stress on the first syllable makes it stand out in fluent speech, so ensure you maintain that strong initial onset while keeping the second syllable light and quick.
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Vomit comes from the Latin verb vomere meaning to vomit, disgorge, or spew forth. Its early English usage mirrors Latin roots, with related forms in Old French and Middle English that described the act of disgorging stomach contents. The word evolved in medical and everyday language to distinguish the act of expelling contents from food intake, with later usage expanding to describe figurative expulsions (e.g., vomit of words) in literature. First known uses in English appear in medical texts and diaries from the late medieval period, solidifying its place in both clinical vocabulary and common vernacular. Over centuries, the term maintained its direct, bodily connotation but also adopted broader metaphorical senses in rhetoric and narrative, while retaining its primary association with nausea-induced expulsion and the physical act of regurgitation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "vomit" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "vomit" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "vomit"
-mit sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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