English pronunciation · Words Starting with M
Maelstrom Pronunciation
Maelstrom is pronounced MAYL-struhm, IPA /ˈmeɪlstrəm/.
MAYL-struhm
US /ˈmeɪlstrəm/ · UK /ˈmeɪlstrɒm/
Syllables: MAYL · struhm (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
noun: A powerful whirlpool, or any scene of violent confusion.
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Maelstrom in a Sentence
- The boat was pulled into the maelstrom.
- She walked into a maelstrom of claims and counterclaims.
- The city centre was a maelstrom that afternoon.
Common Mispronunciations of Maelstrom
Not MY-uhl-struhm
The ae pair is a single long ay, so the word opens exactly like the word mail.
Not MAYL-strohm
The second beat has no full o in it. It reduces to struhm, with the weight staying at the front.
Tip: The word came from Dutch, where it meant a grinding stream, and English kept the spelling but not the vowels.
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