Pronunciation Guide • English (from Greek)
How to Pronounce phlegm
Difficulty: medium
IPA Transcription
/flɛm/
Why is it so hard to pronounce?
FLEM. One syllable. The "ph" = /f/, and the "gm" at the end — the G is completely silent. Three letters are silent in this five-letter word: h, g, and the "silent e" (no wait, there is no e). The GH cluster is silent.
💡 Pro Tip for phlegm
FLEM. Like "phlegmatic" without the "-matic". Rhymes with "them".
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The term phlegm originates from Greek "phlegma". Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.