How to pronounce yakuza
Say it like YAK-oo-zuh. Yakuza has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce yakuza. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YAK
- oo
- zuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Yakuza pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- zuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of yakuza
American and British speakers say yakuza in essentially the same way: /ˈjækuzə/ in the US and /ˈjækuːzə/ in the UK.
British respelling: YAK-oo-zuh.
What does yakuza mean?
- A Japanese organized crime gang.
- A member of that Japanese organized crime gang.
Questions about saying yakuza
How do you pronounce yakuza?
Say YAK-oo-zuh. The American pronunciation is /ˈjækuzə/. In British English it is /ˈjækuːzə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in yakuza?
Yakuza has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YAK). Broken into parts: YAK · oo · zuh.
Do Americans and Brits say yakuza the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈjækuzə/ and the British form is /ˈjækuːzə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.