How to pronounce sesame
Say it like SES-uh-mee. Sesame has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sesame. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SES
- uh
- mee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sesame pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- meeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of sesame
American and British speakers say sesame in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛsəmi/ in the US and /ˈsɛsəmi/ in the UK.
British respelling: SES-uh-mee.
What does sesame mean?
- A tropical Asian plant (Sesamum indicum) bearing small flat seeds used as food and as a source of oil.
- The seed of this plant.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying sesame
How do you pronounce sesame?
Say SES-uh-mee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛsəmi/. In British English it is /ˈsɛsəmi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sesame?
Sesame has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SES). Broken into parts: SES · uh · mee.
Do Americans and Brits say sesame the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛsəmi/ and the British form is /ˈsɛsəmi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.