How to pronounce shawarma
Say it like shuh-WAR-muh. Shawarma has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce shawarma. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- shuh
- WAR
- muh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shawarma pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- shuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- WARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of shawarma
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: shuh-WAH-muh.
What does shawarma mean?
- A Middle Eastern sandwich-like wrap of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or a mixture of these.
Words that rhyme with shawarma
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of shawarma.
Questions about saying shawarma
How do you pronounce shawarma?
Say shuh-WAR-muh. The American pronunciation is /ʃəˈwɑrmə/. In British English it is /ʃəˈwɑːmə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shawarma?
Shawarma has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WAR). Broken into parts: shuh · WAR · muh.
Is shawarma pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ʃəˈwɑːmə/ (shuh-WAH-muh).