How to pronounce ziggurat
Say it like ZIG-uh-rat. Ziggurat has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ZIG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ziggurat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ZIG
- uh
- rat
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ziggurat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ZIGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- ratGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of ziggurat
American and British speakers say ziggurat in essentially the same way: /ˈzɪɡəˌræt/ in the US and /ˈzɪɡəˌræt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ZIG-uh-rat.
What does ziggurat mean?
- A temple tower of the ancient Mesopotamian valley, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories
- Any building with similar style or shape.“He works in an old ziggurat of an office building.”
Where does ziggurat come from?
Learned borrowing from Akkadian 𒅆𒂍𒉪 (ziqqurratum).
Questions about saying ziggurat
How do you pronounce ziggurat?
Say ZIG-uh-rat. The American pronunciation is /ˈzɪɡəˌræt/. In British English it is /ˈzɪɡəˌræt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ziggurat?
Ziggurat has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ZIG). Broken into parts: ZIG · uh · rat.
Do Americans and Brits say ziggurat the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈzɪɡəˌræt/ and the British form is /ˈzɪɡəˌræt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.