How to pronounce "volume" and "value"

r/fauxnetics would have a field day with this thread "Volume" would typically have the IPA vowel /ɑ/ in General American English. The first syllable would rhyme with "hall" "Value" would typically have the vowel /æ/. The first syllable rhymes with "pal". I wouldn't not expect these 2 vowels in these 2 words to be interchanged or for one to become like the other. You can also use sites like Forvo or YouGlish to hear spoken examples of words. Edit: also, neither of these sounds are a schwa. The schwa is /ə/ and is the vowel in the first syllable of "about" or, in some dialects, the vowel in "strut".

Southwest US. Vol-yoom (same yoom in vacuum and perfume) Val-you

In the UK we pronounce it VOL-yoom, so even if you’re in the US they’ll still understand you

I’m from the USA (Texas) and the schwa pronunciation is less common here, you would be understood in the USA either way.

If you can say the word “all,” that’s how the “ol” in “volume” is pronounced. The “al” in “value” is just like the “Al” at the beginning of a name like Albert or Alan.

[like this](https://voca.ro/1kawwfqSB497)

Yes that’s exactly how I pronounce them in my dialect (American English, west coast) The schwa in volume is used in some but not all dialects. You’re fine.

VALL (rhymes with tall) Yoom (rhymes with tomb) VAL (rhymes with pal) You

Neither of these words is pronounced with a schwa. The pronunciations you gave seem about right. With that said, schwa is a very common sound in English, so you should probably learn how to pronounce it sooner or later.

There’s no schwa sound in either word in my accent. Val-you is correct (stress on VAL). Volume is voll-yoom (voll as in volley ball).

Vall-youm Val-you

The funny part of this post is that in English, we hardly care about vowels and regional variations shift them all over the place... On the other hand, English V is a serial killer of new students to English because there's a tonne of international variation in how it's pronounced. Depending on the learner's base language, it's gonna get ptonounce like an English B, F, or W. As long as you get the vowels right, you're being understood.

If you want to try and make the version of the pronunciation with the slight schwa sound before the em, then try and have an almost imperceptible slightl intake of air as your lips round into the em sound. I mostly say vol-yoom (rhyming with room and loom); however, I can make and have heard the other pronunciation you provided.

There is no "correct" way to pronounce things. Natives will have different accents, just like foreigners. It doesn't mean that any pronunciation is understandable, though. Just say it how you think it sounds from natives, and make sure it is understandable to others.

In north American English at least, volume is not pronounced with a schwa but with the "you" sound as you described.

The best way to learn the pronunciation of words in English is to listen to people from various places pronounce it. Most English-speaking countries have wildly different accents, England alone has many. There is no definitively "correct" phonetic pronunciation of many words.

The [Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/learner-english/) has pronunciation files for all of their entries with both British and American pronunciations. Just look up the word and click on the speaker icon in the entry.

Might help, might harm: https://voca.ro/1bQUKZWNbMlM

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhEyIBNjFhY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhEyIBNjFhY)

vol-yoom

US pronunciation of volume: VALL- (like "all" with a "V" in front of it) youm (like "you" with an "m" at the end.

Australian here... Volume: Vol-yoom Value: Val-yoo

It's voll-youm (rhymes with Ball-Loom) and val-you here in the UK in most places (not sure about in the US)

Pronouncing "volume" and "value" can be tricky, especially with that sneaky schwa sound (ə). I used to say "vol-yoom" and "val-yoo" too until I realized it’s more like "vahl-yuhm" and "val-yoo." Practice makes perfect, though!

Tbh I think most people pronounce “väl-you-m.” The only time I’ve ever heard “väl-yem” would just be if someone is talking really fast & it can start to sound that way

The ‘O’ in “volume” sounds like the ‘A’ in “apply”. The ‘A’ in “value” sounds like the ‘A’ in “apple”