How to pronounce shambles
Say it like SHAM-bulz. Shambles has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHAM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce shambles. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHAM
- bulz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shambles pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHAMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- bulzKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of shambles
American and British speakers say shambles in essentially the same way: /ˈʃæmbəlz/ in the US and /ˈʃæmbəlz/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHAM-bulz.
What does shambles mean?
- A scene of great disorder or ruin.
- A great mess or clutter.“This bedroom is a shambles.”
- A scene of bloodshed, carnage or devastation.
- third-person singular simple present indicative of shamble How to pronounce shamble
Where does shambles come from?
From Middle English schamels, plural of schamel, from Old English sċeamol, sċamul (“bench, stool”), from Proto-West Germanic *skamul, *skamil (“stool, bench”), from Vulgar Latin scamellum, from Latin scamillum (“little bench, ridge”), from
Questions about saying shambles
How do you pronounce shambles?
Say SHAM-bulz. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃæmbəlz/. In British English it is /ˈʃæmbəlz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shambles?
Shambles has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHAM). Broken into parts: SHAM · bulz.
Do Americans and Brits say shambles the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʃæmbəlz/ and the British form is /ˈʃæmbəlz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.