How to pronounce kabuki
Say it like kuh-BOO-kee. Kabuki has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kabuki. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- BOO
- kee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kabuki pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- BOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- keeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of kabuki
American and British speakers say kabuki in essentially the same way: /kəˈbuki/ in the US and /kəˈbuːkiː/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-BOO-kee.
What does kabuki mean?
- A form of Japanese theatre in which elaborately costumed male performers use stylized movements, dances, and songs in order to enact tragedies and comedies.
- A stylized, pretentious, and often hollow performance; (especially) political posturing.
Words that rhyme with kabuki
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kabuki.
Questions about saying kabuki
How do you pronounce kabuki?
Say kuh-BOO-kee. The American pronunciation is /kəˈbuki/. In British English it is /kəˈbuːkiː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kabuki?
Kabuki has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOO). Broken into parts: kuh · BOO · kee.
Do Americans and Brits say kabuki the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈbuki/ and the British form is /kəˈbuːkiː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.