How to pronounce tambourine
Say it like tam-buh-REEN. Tambourine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (REEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tambourine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tam
- buh
- REEN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tambourine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tamGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- REENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of tambourine
American and British speakers say tambourine in essentially the same way: /ˌtæmbəˈrin/ in the US and /ˌtæmbəˈriːn/ in the UK.
British respelling: tam-buh-REEN.
What does tambourine mean?
- A percussion instrument consisting of a small, usually wooden, hoop closed on one side with a drum frame and featuring jingling metal disks on the tread; it is most often held in the hand and shaken rhythmically; by extension, any frame drum.
- A tambourine dove (Turtur tympanistria).
- A kind of Provençal dance.
- To play the tambourine.
- To make a sound like a tambourine.
Where does tambourine come from?
From French tambourin (“little drum”), from French tambour (“drum”).
Words that rhyme with tambourine
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tambourine.
Questions about saying tambourine
How do you pronounce tambourine?
Say tam-buh-REEN. The American pronunciation is /ˌtæmbəˈrin/. In British English it is /ˌtæmbəˈriːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tambourine?
Tambourine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (REEN). Broken into parts: tam · buh · REEN.
Do Americans and Brits say tambourine the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌtæmbəˈrin/ and the British form is /ˌtæmbəˈriːn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.