How to pronounce ambush
Say it like AM-buush. Ambush has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ambush. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AM
- buush
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ambush pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- buushGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
American vs British pronunciation of ambush
American and British speakers say ambush in essentially the same way: /ˈæmˌbʊʃ/ in the US and /ˈæmbʊʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: AM-buush.
What does ambush mean?
- wait in hiding to attack
- hunt (quarry) by stalking and ambushing
- the act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise
Where does ambush come from?
From Middle English enbuschen, from Old French enbuscier, anbuchier (verb) (whence Middle French embusche (noun)), from Old French en- + Vulgar Latin boscus (“wood”) (whence also bouquet), from Frankish *busk (“bush”), from Proto-Germanic *
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ambush
How do you pronounce ambush?
Say AM-buush. The American pronunciation is /ˈæmˌbʊʃ/. In British English it is /ˈæmbʊʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ambush?
Ambush has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AM). Broken into parts: AM · buush.
Do Americans and Brits say ambush the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæmˌbʊʃ/ and the British form is /ˈæmbʊʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.