How to pronounce shimmy
Say it like SHIM-ee. Shimmy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHIM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce shimmy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHIM
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shimmy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHIMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of shimmy
American and British speakers say shimmy in essentially the same way: /ˈʃɪmi/ in the US and /ˈʃɪmi/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHIM-ee.
What does shimmy mean?
- To perform a shimmy (dance movement involving thrusting the shoulders back and forth alternately).
- To climb something (e.g. a pole) gradually (e.g. using alternately one's arms then one's legs).“He shimmied up the flagpole.”
- To vibrate abnormally, as a broken wheel.
- A dance move involving thrusting the shoulders back and forth alternately.
- A dance that was popular in the 1920s.
- An abnormal vibration, especially in the wheels of a vehicle.
Where does shimmy come from?
A back-formation from chemise (mistaken for a plural).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with shimmy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of shimmy.
Questions about saying shimmy
How do you pronounce shimmy?
Say SHIM-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃɪmi/. In British English it is /ˈʃɪmi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shimmy?
Shimmy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHIM). Broken into parts: SHIM · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say shimmy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʃɪmi/ and the British form is /ˈʃɪmi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.