2 syllables: Shab, bat. Stress on Shab.
SHAB-uht
/ˈʃæbət/
Shabbat is pronounced SHAB-uht (/ˈʃæbət/). It has two syllables (Shab-bat), with the stress on "Shab". Shabbat is a Jewish weekly day of rest and spiritual enrichment, observed from Friday evening to Saturday night. It is a distinct, ceremonial pause from weekday work, marked by prayer, family meals, and festive rituals. The term also refers to the specific observance itself, including its customs, blessings, and the sanctified time it creates.
nounShabbat is a Jewish weekly day of rest and spiritual enrichment, observed from Friday evening to Saturday night. It is a distinct, ceremonial pause from weekday work, marked by prayer, family meals, and festive rituals. The term also refers to the specific observance itself, including its customs, blessings, and the sanctified time it creates.
"We light candles to welcome Shabbat on Friday evening."
"During Shabbat, many Jews refrain from work and use the time for study and reflection."
"The Shabbat table is often set with candles, wine, and challah."
Pronounce it SHAH-baht, with the first syllable stressed. IPA US: /ˈʃɑː.bɑːt/, UK: /ˈʃæb.æt/, AU: /ˈʃæb.æt/. The first syllable carries primary stress; the vowels are broad and open, and the final -bat is pronounced with a short a as in bat in many dialects, though some speakers extend the vowel slightly. Mouth position: start with a wide, relaxed mouth for /ʃ/ and /ɑː/; end with a crisp /t/ but not released beyond the alveolar stop.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (e.g., SAY-ing the second syllable), using a short /a/ in the first syllable, or pronouncing a final /t/ as a hard stop without light release. To correct: place primary stress on the first syllable /ˈʃɑː/; keep /ɑː/ long or drawn-out depending on speaker; finish with a clear but not explosive /t/. Practice with slow phonetic drills and listen to native pronunciations for subtle vowel length and consonant release.
In US and many non-rhotic varieties, the /t/ at the end may be lightly released, sounding closer to /t/ with a soft release. UK speakers often have a slightly shorter first vowel, closer to /æ/ or /ɑ:/ depending on dialect, with a less prominent /ɑː/ and a crisper /t/. Australian English tends to have a more centralized first vowel and a softer, less aspirated /t/. Overall, the first syllable vowel and the final consonant may vary subtly, but the stress remains on the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in balancing the long /ɑː/ or /æ/ vowel in the first syllable with the final open syllable and a crisp alveolar /t/. For non-Hebrew speakers, the initial /ʃ/ may be familiar, but the elongated first vowel and the non-native vowel combination can feel tricky. Additionally, the final /t/ may be unreleased or clipped in rapid speech. Focus on keeping the mouth open for the first vowel and timing the final /t/ with a light, controlled release.
Some speakers in diaspora communities may pronounce the second syllable with a very short /a/ or even /ə/ in fast speech, which reduces the contrast between /ˈʃɑː/ and /bæt/. Others preserve a longer second vowel, approaching /bɑːt/. The most important feature is the strong first-syllable stress and a clearly enunciated final /t/. If you hear a variation, use the standard /ˈʃɑː.bɑːt/ or /ˈʃæb.æt/ depending on your community, and adjust per guidance from native speakers.
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Shabbat derives from the Hebrew word Shabbat/Shabbat (שבת), rooted in the Proto-Semitic root sha-bat, meaning to intercept, to cease, or to rest. The term appears in biblical Hebrew (Genesis, Exodus) to denote the seventh day of creation when God rested, and thus sanctified it as a day of rest and worship. In Aramaic and later rabbinic literature, Shabbat expands to describe the weekly observance, the set of prohibitions (melakhot) and the liturgical and communal rituals that accompany it. The concept spread with Judaism across cultures, adapting to languages such as Yiddish, Ladino, and modern Hebrew, consistently retaining the idea of a sacred pause from ordinary labor. First known written uses appear in ancient Hebrew inscriptions and later rabbinic codifications, with the term consistently tying to cessation, holiness, and time set apart. Over centuries, Shabbat evolved from a simple biblically mandated rest day into a richly codified cycle of blessing, prayer, and communal meal practices around Friday night and Saturday day, reflecting the central Jewish calendar and spiritual life. In English usage, Shabbat is often transliterated with capital letters and is sometimes distinguished from Sabbath to emphasize the Jewish rite rather than a generic “Sabbath.” The pronunciation and spelling in English-speaking communities reflect diaspora pronunciation, while the Hebrew root remains a stable symbol of sanctified time and rest.
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Words that rhyme with "Shabbat"
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