Hi Little Turtle,
As I mentioned in another comment, the Sanskrit AIM is pronounced as a like the English “I’m”, and is a single syllable, as all bija mantras are, by definition (as opposed to the mantras AYAM or I AM, which are two syllables in length).
In Sanskrit, this mantra (AIM) contains just two letters - Ai, and the slightly-nasalized “m”, known as bindu, or anusvara.
Reference Link: Sanskrit Alphabet Chart
Helpful Instructional Pronunciation video for the AIM bija mantra.
Hi Victor,
No worries - but just to clarify, AIM is specifically a bija, or seed mantra, which all (bija mantras) consist of single syllables, by definition.
And so, the bija mantra AIM is pronounced like the English “I’m”.
Just as Yogani has discussed some of the energetic differences between AUM and I AM, there are also energetic differences between single-syllable and multiple-syllable pronunciations.
Example:
Pronunciation video for the AIM bija mantra
I’m not “quibbling”, btw – just passing on the info, for whatever it may be worth.
Thanks Kirtanman
Just to quibble 
, the English word “I’m” is a subtle contraction of the English words “I am”. If you repeat either one for awhile they come out the same, especially if you say it fairly rapidly. Perhaps the difference is more noticable if said very slowly. I still believe that the AYP “I AM” mantra is the same as the bija “Ayim” but maybe thats just me. Feels quite different than “Aum” which drops much more into the belly rather than rising in the spine like “I am”. That is my subjective sensation anyway
Hi Victor,
No worries — “quibble away”.
Maybe a better way to say it is:
The Sanskrit letter Ai is pronounced like the English “I”, and the bija mantra AIM is that sound, followed by a slightly-nasalized “m” (as described in the video I linked to).
I just used “I’m” as an example, because for most of us, in most situations, the bija mantra AIM and the English contraction “I’m” sound essentially identical.
And, again, for what it’s worth: bija mantras are technically single-syllable.
In my opinion, mantras have two key facets:
- The energy dynamics, as you mentioned.
- The mind-focus, which facilitates the revealing of inner silence.
The latter facet is the most important, by far, in my opinion and experience. This is why, I feel, meditation has proven to be so effective, in so many of the world’s spiritual traditions, regardless of the mantra or other sacred sound which is repeated as part of meditation practice (though some consideration is usually given to the specific sounds/vibrations which are used, of course).
In both those ways, AYP’s I AM (AYAM) mantra seems to be at least as effective as any other, based on practitioners’ results – which I’d say is the important part, and is what actually makes it “legitimate” (hard to argue with what works).
Hi all,
Not wishing to quibble, but…
There is a slight difference between the Sanskrit mantra AIM and the English word I’m. AIM has a slightly pronounced short ‘i’ in the middle of it. Imagine the English word aisle and then taking the ‘sle’ bit off the end and putting an ‘m’ on, that would be pretty close.
This is why I AM and AIM are not the same… AIM has a short ‘i’ and I AM doesn’t.
You can hear it in the youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMJ4eqHSCFs
Christi
They are indeed different by the location in the body they belong to. What do you feel? It may be a little pain at the location f the different mantras.
Axel
Hi Christi,
I don’t hear it, which might explain a lot.
If only you Brits would speak English like the rest of us … 
“But Seriously” … it’s all good. I just wasn’t delving into quite that level of nuance, and (also) wasn’t aware it existed.
The “Ai” in Aisle, and the “I” in I’m sound essentially identical to me, but, then again … I am American in general, and Californian in particular, and our manner of expression along with the accent thereof, is often, like, totally unique. 
My main “quibble” was the distinction between one syllables and two – and regarding that quibble, it seems we agree.
For what it’s worth (to all) here’s a Sanskrit alphabet pronunciation guide, with audio, for each letter.
Namaste, friends
As Yogani has explained, it is the soundlike quality and the vibration of the mantra that is important, how it effects our minds in meditation and leading us to inner silence and the witnessing awareness that is “I”. At the same time I can relate to the topic of autenticity and the need to verify the mantra with outside sources In that regard I want to present the following where David Godman (suitable name ), a long time devotee of Sri Ramana Maharshi presents the Maharshi’s comments on the AYAM mantra. This might be interesting information for the Self-Inquiry enthusiast out there
I am - The First Name of God
(First published in The Mountain Path, 1992, pp. 26-35 and pp. 126-42.)
"In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad there is a verse that describes how, at the beginning of the universe, the Self became aware of itself as ‘I’:
"In the beginning this [universe] was the Self alone… He [the Self] reflected and saw nothing but the Self. He first said, ‘I am He’. Therefore He came to be known by the name aham [‘I’].(1)
"‘I’ thus became the first name of God. Bhagavan corroborated the sentiments expressed in this verse when he told a devotee, ‘The one, infinite, unbroken whole [plenum] became aware of itself as ‘‘I’’. This is its original name. All other names, for example Om, are later growths.’(2)
"On another occasion Bhagavan, commenting on this famous verse from the Upanishads, explained how, due to a felicitous combination of letters, the name aham not only denoted the subjective nature of God but also implied that it encompassed and constituted all of the manifest universe:
"The talk then turned to the name of God and Bhagavan said, 'Talking of all mantras, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says ‘aham’ [I] is the first name of God. The first letter in Sanskrit is ‘A’ and the last letter ‘Ha’ and ‘aha’ thus includes everything from beginning to end. The word ayam means ‘that which exists’, Self-shining and Self-evident. Ayam, atma and aham all refer to the same thing.(3)
“The name aham merely indicates that God experiences himself subjectively as ‘I’. When one adds the word ‘am’ to the name there is the further implication that God is, that God is being itself. Bhagavan expounded on this idea in Guru Vachaka Kovai and then went on to say that ‘I am’ is not merely the first name of God, it is also the most appropriate…”
Source: http://davidgodman.org/rteach/fnofgod1.shtml
Prem from Shivadas
Victors orginal mantra the chamundayee mantra is om aim reem kleem chamundayee viche, in india it is actually pronounced as ‘I’m’. If this sound ‘aim’ is to be used for meditation, it should be sounded as ‘ayim’ which is a two syllabicated original beej mantra which will give good results.
But Victors contention that ‘Aim’ is the same as ’ I am’ is totally false. One is pronounced ‘ayim’, another is pronounced ‘ayam’.
It does not really matter which one you use, but lets not confuse the tow. Lets put this matter to bed.
Thank you all for you input. There appears to be more subtlety to this than I had realized. I do see the difference between ayeeem and ayaaam if it is expanded that way.It has felt helpful to explore this if for no other reason than to help those who did not see the Ayam mantra as legitimate or traditional. It gives them something to go on.