How to pronounce shamisen
Say it like SHAM-ih-sen. Shamisen has three 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 shamisen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHAM
- ih
- sen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shamisen 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.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- senKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of shamisen
American and British speakers say shamisen in essentially the same way: /ˈʃæmɪsɛn/ in the US and /ˈʃæmɪsɛn/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHAM-ih-sen.
What does shamisen mean?
- A kind of three-stringed Japanese fretless lute.
Questions about saying shamisen
How do you pronounce shamisen?
Say SHAM-ih-sen. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃæmɪsɛn/. In British English it is /ˈʃæmɪsɛn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shamisen?
Shamisen has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHAM). Broken into parts: SHAM · ih · sen.
Do Americans and Brits say shamisen the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʃæmɪsɛn/ and the British form is /ˈʃæmɪsɛn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.