How to pronounce kaddish
Say it like KAH-dish. Kaddish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kaddish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAH
- dish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kaddish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- dishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of kaddish
American and British speakers say kaddish in essentially the same way: /ˈkɑdɪʃ/ in the US and /ˈkædɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAD-ish.
What does kaddish mean?
- A Jewish prayer of praise to God recited during services, and specifically when mourning the death of a close relative.
Questions about saying kaddish
How do you pronounce kaddish?
Say KAH-dish. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑdɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈkædɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kaddish?
Kaddish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAH). Broken into parts: KAH · dish.
Do Americans and Brits say kaddish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkɑdɪʃ/ and the British form is /ˈkædɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.