pram: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2 (UK), C1 (US)Informal (UK), Formal (UK historical), Unknown/Unused (US for baby carriage meaning)
Quick answer
What does “pram” mean?
A small four-wheeled vehicle for a baby, pushed by a person on foot.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small four-wheeled vehicle for a baby, pushed by a person on foot.
Primarily used in British English; can also refer to a type of flat-bottomed boat or, informally, to something that is slow-moving or old-fashioned.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Fundamental. In the UK, 'pram' is the everyday word for a baby carriage. In the US, 'stroller' or 'carriage' is used; 'pram' is not used for this object in everyday American English.
Connotations
UK: Neutral, domestic, everyday. US: Either British, historical, or technical (nautical).
Frequency
Very High frequency in UK English for the baby carriage meaning. Very Low frequency in US English for that meaning.
Grammar
How to Use “pram” in a Sentence
VERB + pram: push, wheel, buy, collapsePREP + pram: in a/the pramVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in retail for baby products.
Academic
Rare, may appear in historical or sociological texts.
Everyday
Very Common in UK, rare in US.
Technical
Nautical: a type of flat-bottomed boat, often used for fishing or as a tender.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pram”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pram”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pram”
- US speakers using 'pram' naturally in conversation (sounds affected/British).
- Non-native speakers assuming 'pram' is universal for baby carriages.
- Confusing 'pram' with 'tram' (a streetcar).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not for baby carriages in everyday speech. Americans use 'stroller' or 'carriage'. 'Pram' is known as a British word or in technical/nautical contexts.
Perambulator. 'Pram' is a clipped form (clipping) of this longer word.
Traditionally, a pram (or perambulator) has the baby lying flat and faces away from the pusher. A pushchair (or stroller) is for older babies who can sit up, often facing forwards. Modern usage, especially 'travel systems', has blurred this distinction.
Yes. It can refer to a flat-bottomed boat, used especially in the Baltic and for inland fishing. It is also slang in some contexts for a promenade or a slow, old-fashioned vehicle.
A small four-wheeled vehicle for a baby, pushed by a person on foot.
Pram: in British English it is pronounced /præm/, and in American English it is pronounced /præm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PRAM sounds like 'PRAM' (a memory chip in computing). Imagine pushing a baby's PRAM to clear your mind's PRAM (memory).
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER (for a baby); A VEHICLE (for gentle transport).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'pram' the standard term for a baby carriage?