How to pronounce jihad
Say it like JEE-had. Jihad has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce jihad. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JEE
- had
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Jihad pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- hadKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of jihad
American and British speakers say jihad in essentially the same way: /ˈdʒihæd/ in the US and /ˈdʒiːhæd/ in the UK.
British respelling: JEE-had.
What does jihad mean?
- A holy war undertaken by Muslims.
- A personal spiritual struggle for self-improvement or against evil.
- An aggressive campaign for an idea.
- To participate in a jihad.
Questions about saying jihad
How do you pronounce jihad?
Say JEE-had. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒihæd/. In British English it is /ˈdʒiːhæd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in jihad?
Jihad has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JEE). Broken into parts: JEE · had.
Do Americans and Brits say jihad the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdʒihæd/ and the British form is /ˈdʒiːhæd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.