How to pronounce samurai
Say it like SAM-uu-ry. Samurai has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce samurai. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAM
- uu
- ry
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Samurai pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uuKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- ryGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of samurai
American and British speakers say samurai in essentially the same way: /ˈsæmʊˌraɪ/ in the US and /ˈsæmjʊˌraɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAM-yuu-ry.
What does samurai mean?
- a Japanese warrior who was a member of the feudal military aristocracy
- feudal Japanese military aristocracy
Questions about saying samurai
How do you pronounce samurai?
Say SAM-uu-ry. The American pronunciation is /ˈsæmʊˌraɪ/. In British English it is /ˈsæmjʊˌraɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in samurai?
Samurai has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAM). Broken into parts: SAM · uu · ry.
Do Americans and Brits say samurai the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsæmʊˌraɪ/ and the British form is /ˈsæmjʊˌraɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.