How to Pronounce Meme

Are you one of the millions of Internet users who enjoy their daily stream of "meme" content while harboring a dark secret: that you don't know how to actually pronounce "meme?" Don't worry—according to the Oxford English Dictionary (and many other sources), the correct pronunciation for "meme" is "meem" (rhymes with "team").[1] Now you can comment on the latest online content IRL without fear of embarrassment!

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:
Using the Right Pronunciation

  1. Image titled Pronounce Meme Step 1
    1
    Pronounce “meme” with a long “e” sound, like "meem". Although it may not look like it, “meme” should be pronounced with a long “e.” When you say it, you should only be using 1 syllable.[2]
    • Always use the long “e” sound, never the short “e” sound or an “a” sound.
  2. Image titled Pronounce Meme Step 2
    2
    Don’t pronounce “meme” like “may may.” While it may look like “meme” should be pronounced this way, “may may” is in fact incorrect. Remember: you should never be using an “a” sound when you’re saying “meme.”[3]
    • It's helpful to remember that the word "meme" doesn't have the letter "a" in it, and it also isn't pronounced with an "a" sound.
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  3. Image titled Pronounce Meme Step 3
    3
    Avoid pronouncing "meme" like “mee mee.” Pronouncing “meme” like “mee mee” is also a common mispronunciation. To get it right, say it like “meem” with a long “e” sound.[4]
    • Remember that the last “e” in “meme” is silent.
  4. Image titled Pronounce Meme Step 4
    4
    Don’t say “mehm” when you’re trying to pronounce “meme.” “Mehm” or "maim" is getting closer, but it's still incorrect. To pronounce “meme” correctly, you need to use a long “e” sound.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:
Remembering the Pronunciation

  1. Image titled Pronounce Meme Step 5
    1
    Remember that “meme” rhymes with words like “team” and “beam.” To keep yourself from stumbling over the pronunciation in the future, try to remember different words that “meme” rhymes with. Then, it will be easier to remember the correct way to say the word. Other words that rhyme with “meme” are:[5]
    • Dream
    • Cream
    • Seam
    • Stream
    • Theme
    • Ream
    • Beam
    • Supreme
    • Color scheme
  1. Image titled Pronounce Meme Step 6
    1
    Switch the last 2 letters before you pronounce it. Given the way that “meme” is spelled, it’s no surprise that the pronunciation is tricky. One way to overcome this is to get in the habit of switching the last 2 letters, “m” and “e,” whenever you are reading or saying the word. When you switch the last 2 letters, the word looks like “meem,” which is easier to pronounce correctly.
    • Over time, you’ll start to automatically pronounce “meme” like “meem.”
  2. Image titled Pronounce Meme Step 7
    2
    Remember that the word “meme” was created to be similar to the word “gene.” The word “meme” may have a bizarre spelling, but that’s because the person who created the word, famous author and researcher Richard Dawkins, wanted it to have a similar spelling to “gene.” In the mid-1970s, Dawkins coined the term “meme” to describe ideas that spread between people, kind of like how genes replicate and get passed on to others.[6]
    • If you’re ever struggling to remember the right pronunciation, just think about the origins of the word to help you out. The word “gene” is pronounced with a long “e” sound, and the last “e” is silent, just like how “meme” is pronounced.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How do I get my normie friend to learn how to pronounce "meme" and not be an embarrassment?
    HelpFromRosalie
    HelpFromRosalie
    Community Answer
    Teach them how to do it with your newfound knowledge, and/or show them this article before they engage in another conversation.
  • Question
    Are others way of pronouncing "meme" acceptable on the internet?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Of course not.
  • Question
    What is a dank meme?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    A dank meme is a meme that has been used so much that it has surpassed all other memes.
  • Question
    Will my friends think I'm cool if I talk about the latest memes?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It depends. If the “meme” you are talking about doesn’t resonate within your social group, it could be a miss. You have to know your audience in order to entertain them.
  • Question
    What is the average life span of a meme?
    Shookmo2005
    Shookmo2005
    Community Answer
    Depending on whether or not the meme is dank, memes can survive a few years. Less dank memes tend to die out after anywhere from 1 week to 2 months. All in all, the danker the better, my dude.
  • Question
    Is Nicolas Cage a dead meme?
    Wikihower01
    Wikihower01
    Community Answer
    A meme is never truly dead, it just loses power. Although Nicolas Cage is not as powerful as he used to be, he is still a wonderful meme.
  • Question
    Why is this a wikiHow? Who can't pronounce meme?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Those who may have read the word, but not heard or used it in conversation.
  • Question
    How do you pronounce 'meme'?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    'Meme' is pronounced 'meem.'
  • Question
    My daughter has an addiction to memes. Should I be worried?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, I wouldn't be worried. This is pretty normal for young kids.
  • Question
    What if the meme has ascended? Will it be pronounced differently?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If by this you mean that it is a "dead meme," then call it a dead meme and make fun of people who still use it.

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/meme
  2. ↑ https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/meme
  3. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-41163774
  4. ↑ http://thesportsdaily.com/2018/03/31/jim-nantz-roasted-for-failing-to-pronounce-meme/
  5. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-41163774
  6. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-41163774

About This Article

Kyle Hall
Co-authored by:
Kyle Hall
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Kyle Hall works on the content team at wikiHow. He helps manage our team of editors and creates content for a variety of wikiHow projects. Kyle continually looks for new ways to improve the content at wikiHow and make it more helpful and enjoyable for readers. He graduated from Eckerd College in 2015, where he majored in Political Science. This article has been viewed 411,039 times.
219 votes - 64%
Co-authors: 77
Updated: November 3, 2021
Views: 411,039
Categories: Pronunciation
Article SummaryX

To pronounce "meme," say the word with a long "e," like "meem." Remember that the last "e" is silent. Avoid common mispronunciations like "may may," "mee mee," and "mehm." If you need some help remembering how to pronounce "meme" correctly, just remember that it rhymes with words like "team," "cream," and "beam." To learn other helpful tricks for remembering the correct pronunciation, scroll down!

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