How to Say or Pronounce Kratom The Correct Way

Not knowing how to pronounce a certain word can put you in a dilemma when you trying to use it in a sentence. Many People find themselves severely frustrated when they am unable to correctly pinpoint a word’s pronunciation. Despite the popularity that Kratom has seen, many people still don’t know how to pronounce the word Kratom or even its scientific name, Mitragyna speciosa. 

Today, more and more people are moving away from harsh, mainstream options as they learn about the possibilities offered by various organic substances.

This piece will give you a brief history lesson on Kratom and its different pronunciations in various Southeast Asian regions. 

So if you are one of the many aren’t sure how to pronounce Kratom and you have the itch to learn, read further!

What Is Kratom?

While Kratom has only caught the attention of the mainstream American population quite recently, it has been used in Southeast Asia by farmers for many decades. The roots of Kratom use can be traced back to Southeast Asia, where Thai farmers chewed it for a to help push them through their long work hours. The two main alkaloids present in Mitragyna, mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine are the compound which make kratom special.

Belonging to the Rubiaceae family of plants along with species such as coffee, many names are used for Kratom, including Ketum, Biak, Kakum, Thang, and Thom. However, we will discuss how to pronounce the word Kratom, and Mitragyna speciosa, its scientific name, as these are the commonly used names for Kratom in the United States.

Dictionary Pronunciation

According to Oxford English Dictionary, there are two ways of pronouncing the word Kratom, and both are relatively simple and basic. The first way to pronounce Kratom is;

KRAT-um:

This is perhaps the most common way of pronouncing Kratom as it is the most intuitive. When comparing it to another word, this pronunciation would rhyme with atom or stratum. 

KRAY-tum:

Using the long pronunciation of ‘ay’ instead of ‘a,’ this pronunciation of Kratom is only slightly different from the previous one. ‘CRAY-tum,’ is a pronunciation that can be compared to the pray, stay, or way. 

Both of these pronunciations can be considered ‘American Kratom,’ pronunciations as they are most commonly used in the U.S. 

Pronouncing the Scientific Name

While Mitragyna speciosa is not used as commonly as Kratom, it is the internationally recognized scientific name that is used around the globe. Mitragyna can be pronounced both with a ‘MY’ sound and a ‘Me’ sound. The resultant pronunciation would either be MY-tra-ginah or ME-tra-ginah. On the other hand, speciosa has a simple pronunciation that comes intuitively. Out of both of these pronunciations, there is no right or wrong as both of them are used commonly. The etymology of the first half of this name stems from mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragine, the main alkaloids in Kratom, while the second half, or ‘speciosa,’ means brilliant or spectacular.

How Do Natives of Southeast Asia Pronounce Kratom?

Kratom holds great significance in various Southeast Asian countries, and the pronunciation of Kratom in each country varies according to their accent. The three main countries where mitragyna is native to include Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, and their pronunciations of Kratom are as follows;

Indonesia

The Indonesian island of Borneo is home to one of the most popular strains of Kratom, Borneo Kratom. In Indonesia, Kratom is pronounced in a different yet intriguing way as it is pronounced ‘Kra-Thom.’ While Kra is pronounced like ‘spa,’ the ‘TH,’ with the sound of ‘H,’ is what gives this pronunciation a kick of fascination.

Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the largest exporters of Kratom, and the Malay strain is the specific one that the Malaysian Kratom market is known for. In Malaysia, the ‘r,’ in Kratom is silent, which means it is pronounced Keatom or Key-tum, which sounds exactly like ‘Key,’ and ‘Tum,’ combined.

Thailand

Thailand is perhaps the country most closely associated with Kratom and home to the most popular strain, Maeng Da Kratom, pronounced Maeeeng-Duh, Mong-Da, or Mung-Da. At the same time, Kratom itself is pronounced ‘Kruh-tome,’ emphasizing the sound of ‘Kruh.’

Which Pronunciation Is Right?

There is no objectively wrong one unless you decide to go funky with how you pronounce the English alphabet when it comes to Kratom’s pronunciation. Whether you choose to follow the dictionary pronunciations or pronunciation from a specific region, all of these pronunciations are equally accepted and utilized. However, suppose you think that the pronunciation closest to the origin of the substance is the one that should be followed. In that case, you should follow the Thai pronunciation of Kratom as Mitragyna use originated in Thailand. 

What Matters….

No matter what pronunciation you choose to use, at the end of the day, you would still be talking about the same miraculous herb that has taken the wellness industry all over the world by storm. 

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