How to Pronounce Meme

Co-authored by Kyle Hall

Last Updated: January 12, 2023

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"). 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
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.^{[1]
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- Always use the long “e” sound, never the short “e” sound or an “a” sound.
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.”^{[2]
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- 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
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.^{[3]
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- Remember that the last “e” in “meme” is silent.
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.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Remembering the Pronunciation

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:^{[4]
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- Dream
- Cream
- Seam
- Stream
- Theme
- Ream
- Beam
- Supreme
- Color scheme

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
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.^{[5]
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- 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.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I get my normie friend to learn how to pronounce "meme" and not be an embarrassment?

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

Of course not.
Question

What is a dank meme?

Community Answer

A dank meme is a meme that has been used so much that it has surpassed all other memes.