Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

perm

/pɝm/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.12 in modern English

Syllables: perm
IPA: /pɝm/

8

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Clipping of permanent wave (“hairstyle”).

verb

To give hair a perm, using heat, chemicals etc.

noun

Informal

noun

A combination of outcomes (not a permutation) that a gambler bets on in the football pools.

noun

name

A historical region of northeastern Russia, corresponding to the Kama basin, a left tributary of the Volga.

name

A krai of Russia, near the Ural Mountains.

name

A city, the administrative center of Perm Krai, Russia.

Etymology

Short for permanent.

Word Breakdown

Root: -

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /pɝm/
British English: /pɜːm/

Usage

Informal

Inflected Forms

perms (plural) perms (present, singular) perming (participle, present) permed (participle, past) permed (past)

Derived Forms

merm reperm Permic

Phrases

bubble perm disco perm down perm zoomer perm T perm

Frequently Paired Words

Permian

Synonyms

merm permanent wave permanent

Rhymes With

term firm confirm sperm worm ribbon worm erm germ affirm mongolian death worm squirm infirm

Questions

How do you pronounce perm?: The recorded pronunciation is /pɝm/.
What does perm mean?: Clipping of permanent wave (“hairstyle”).
Where does perm come from?: Short for permanent.

How to pronounce perm

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