How to pronounce harissa
Say it like huh-RIS-uh. Harissa has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce harissa. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- huh
- RIS
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Harissa pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- huhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of harissa
American and British speakers say harissa in essentially the same way: /həˈrɪsə/ in the US and /həˈrɪsə/ in the UK.
British respelling: huh-RIS-uh.
What does harissa mean?
- A North African spice mix, containing chillis, garlic and salt, used as both a condiment and an ingredient.
- A traditional Armenian dish: a kind of porridge made of previously stewed and boned chicken and coarsely ground soaked wheat.
Words that rhyme with harissa
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of harissa.
Questions about saying harissa
How do you pronounce harissa?
Say huh-RIS-uh. The American pronunciation is /həˈrɪsə/. In British English it is /həˈrɪsə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in harissa?
Harissa has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RIS). Broken into parts: huh · RIS · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say harissa the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /həˈrɪsə/ and the British form is /həˈrɪsə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.