Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

clammy

/ˈklæmi/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.47 in modern English

Syllables: clam-my
IPA: /ˈklæmi/

15

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Cold and damp, usually referring to hands or palms.

adj

The quality of normal skin signs, epidermis that is neither diaphoretic nor dry.

Example Sentences

"His hands were clammy from fright."
"The cause is a temperate conglutination ; for both bodies are clammy and viscous , and do bridle the deflux of humours to the hurts , without penning them in too much"
"Then he could see the modest bookseller, somewhat clammy in his extremities and lost within his academic robe and hood, nervously fidgeting his mortar-board, haled forward by ushers, and tottering rubescent before the chancellor, provost, president (or whoever it might be) who hands out the diploma."
"Jenny Lee reached out and took hold of the man’s hand. It was cold and clammy, a deadlike feeling."

Etymology

From Middle English clam (“viscous, sticky; slimy”) + -y, from Old English clǣman (“to smear, bedaub”). Compare German klamm (“clammy”) and klemmen (“to be stuck, stick”). See also clam.

Origin

Source language: Old English

Word Breakdown

Root: clǣman

Inflected Forms

clammier (comparative) clammiest (superlative)

Derived Forms

clammily clamminess clammyweed unclammy

Phrases

clammy cuphea clammy goosefoot

Synonyms

dank

Rhymes With

miami grammy sammy tammy sami whammy tami amie cammy ramey sammie tammie

Questions

How do you pronounce clammy?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈklæmi/.
What does clammy mean?: Cold and damp, usually referring to hands or palms.
Where does clammy come from?: It is traced to Old English.

How to pronounce clammy

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “clammy”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈklæmi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “clammy” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.