Pronunciation Question: COME-pus or Kahm- pas

Factual Questions
1

Hey folks,

I was just wondering on the proper pronunciation of the word COMPASS, you know the thing that gives you directions in the wilderness and in aircraft. :wink:

I have heard people pronounce it “COMEpus” and I have heard “Kahm-pas”. Is one way of saying it wrong or is it a matter of preference in how one says it?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

2

As a child, I always thought it was KOM-pus, because I had only ever seen it in writing. Then I heard people pronouncing it KUM-pus and I changed to saying it that way as well.

3

Probably a regional thing. Some people say “toor”, some say “tore” for tour.

4

Dictionary.com lists kum or kom, both with short vowels, with the vowel in the second syllable unstressed, like puhs.

I’ve never heard anyone say kahm for the first syllable or pas for the second in real life conversation.