How to pronounce sambuca
Say it like sam-BOO-kuh. Sambuca 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 sambuca. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sam
- BOO
- kuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sambuca pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- samKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- BOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sambuca
American and British speakers say sambuca in essentially the same way: /sæmˈbukə/ in the US and /sæmˈbʊkə/ in the UK.
British respelling: sam-BUUK-uh.
What does sambuca mean?
- An Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavored with licorice, traditionally served with 3 coffee beans that represent health, wealth and fortune (or past, present and future).
Where does sambuca come from?
Borrowed from Italian sambuca, from Latin sambūcus (“elder tree”), due to a similar 19th century liquor flavored with elderflower.
Words that rhyme with sambuca
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sambuca.
Questions about saying sambuca
How do you pronounce sambuca?
Say sam-BOO-kuh. The American pronunciation is /sæmˈbukə/. In British English it is /sæmˈbʊkə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sambuca?
Sambuca has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOO). Broken into parts: sam · BOO · kuh.
Do Americans and Brits say sambuca the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sæmˈbukə/ and the British form is /sæmˈbʊkə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.