English pronunciation · Words Starting with C
Costume Pronunciation
Costume is pronounced KAH-stoom, IPA /ˈkɑstum/.
KAH-stoom
US /ˈkɑstum/ · UK /ˈkɒstjuːm/
Syllables: KAH · stoom (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
noun: A set of clothes worn for a performance, a party or a particular period.
Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.
Two Ways to Say Costume
The pronunciation changes with the meaning or the part of speech. The form above is the most common; the others are:
- end-stressed reading (kah-STOOM): /kɑˈstum/ (kah-STOOM)
Costume in a Sentence
- Her costume took three weeks to make.
- He turned up in a bear costume.
- The costume department is on the second floor.
Common Mispronunciations of Costume
Not KUH-stuhm
Costume and custom are different words. The first ends in a long oo and the second in a flat uhm.
Not KAH-styoom
Americans keep a plain stoom and most British speakers add the y glide. Both are standard, and the second is what the spelling tu usually signals.
Tip: Dictionaries list both the front-stressed and the end-stressed reading. Front stress is far commoner in everyday speech.
More words starting with c · Every word in the pronunciation guide