Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sum

/sʌm/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.34 in modern English

Syllables
sum
IPA
/sʌm/
5
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A quantity obtained by addition or aggregation.

noun

An arithmetic computation, especially one posed to a student as an exercise (not necessarily limited to addition).

noun

A quantity of money.

noun

A summary; the principal points or thoughts when viewed together; the substance.

noun

A central idea or point; gist.

noun

The utmost degree; the greatest or most perfect realization (of some concept).

Literary

noun

An old English measure of corn equal to the quarter.

Obsolete

verb

To add together.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English summe, from Old French summe, from Latin summa (“highest point; sum”), from summus (“highest”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /sʌm/
  • British English: /sʌm/

Usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Mathematics.

Inflected Forms

sums (plural) sums (present, singular) summing (participle, present) summed (participle, past) summed (past) sumy (plural) som (alternative) soum (alternative) somon (alternative, Russia) sumon (alternative, Russia) sumu (alternative, China)

Derived Forms

checksum semisum sumless summist sumset sumtree outsum oversum resum summability summable summate

Phrases

Abel sum Appell-Lerch sum digit sum direct sum formal sum in sum linear sum lump sum

Frequently Paired Words

summand summary summation summative successor + = + +... = − =

Synonyms

sum total total totality calculation computation amount quantity of money sum of money compendium summation abridgment abstract

Homonyms

some

Rhymes With

from some come become dumb mum um drum cum thumb gum bum

Questions

How do you pronounce sum?
The recorded pronunciation is /sʌm/.
What does sum mean?
A quantity obtained by addition or aggregation.
Where does sum come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce sum

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