2 syllables: Su, shi. Stress on Su.
SOO-shee
/ˈsuʃi/
Sushi is pronounced SOO-shee (/ˈsuʃi/). It has two syllables (Su-shi), with the stress on "Su". Sushi is raw fish, or other ingredients rolled or pressed with vinegared rice, typically served in bite-sized portions. In everyday use, it refers to a Japanese dish and can describe the various types (nigiri, maki, sashimi). The term is commonly used in dining contexts and menus.
nounSushi is raw fish, or other ingredients rolled or pressed with vinegared rice, typically served in bite-sized portions. In everyday use, it refers to a Japanese dish and can describe the various types (nigiri, maki, sashimi). The term is commonly used in dining contexts and menus.
How to Pronounce Sushi
"I ordered sushi for lunch and tried a salmon nigiri."
"At the sushi bar, the chef offered different kinds of rolls."
"We learned how to make sushi rice and roll technique in class."
Sushi is pronounced /ˈsuː.ʃi/ in US, UK, and AU English. Put stress on the first syllable: SU-shee. Start with a long /uː/ as in 'food', then glide into /ʃi/ like 'she'. Think of it as two syllables: SU-shi. Audio reference: try listening to native speakers on Pronounce, Forvo, or YouGlish to mirror natural speed, then practice the clean separation of /suː/ and /ʃi/.
Common errors: 1) Flattening the /uː/ into a short /u/ or /ʊ/ sound, which makes it sound like 'sushi' with a wrong vowel. Correct by prolonging the /uː/ and ensuring a clean glide into /ʃi/. 2) Dropping the /uː/ or reducing it to /sushi/ with an unstressed first syllable; maintain the strong /ˈsuː/ onset. 3) Mispronouncing /ʃ/ as /s/ or /tʃ/; ensure a post-alveolar, soft
In US/UK/AU, main differences are vowel length and rhotics rather than core consonants. All share /ˈsuː.ʃi/. Rhoticity minorly affects preceding contexts but in sushi, rhotics are not pronounced; US speakers may have a slightly longer /ˈsuː/ and a tighter /ɹ/ influence elsewhere in connected speech, whereas UK and AU maintain a more clipped /ˈsuː.ʃi/ without rhotic influence on the word itself.
Two factors: 1) The long /uː/ vowel requires a relaxed mouth posture with high back tongue height; many learners shorten it, making /suʃi/. 2) The /ʃ/ sound is a post-alveolar fricative that can feel unfamiliar if your L1 uses /ʃ/ differently or lacks a clear palatal-shape. Practice by isolating /uː/ and /ʃ/ with slow, precise tongue retraction and a gentle air stream to keep the fricative soft.
Sushi has clear syllable boundaries with two syllables and primary stress on the first: SU-shi. There are no silent letters in this word. The challenge is maintaining the two distinct sounds /suː/ and /ʃi/ with a smooth transition, not rushing the /ʃ/ into the vowel. Focus on a crisp /ʃ/ after the prolonged /uː/ while keeping the mouth relaxed.
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Sushi originates from Japanese cuisine and refers to a method of preparing vinegared rice that is combined with other ingredients, often raw fish. The modern sense of sushi in English emerged in the late 19th to early 20th century as Western exposure to Japanese food increased. The word sushi is written 寿司 in Kanji, where 寿 (su) refers to longevity and 司 (shi) relates to command or manage; the compound meaning evolved to denote a dish centered on seasoned rice rather than raw fish alone. Historically, sushi began as narezushi in ancient Japan, where fermented fish was packed with salt and rice; over centuries, techniques shifted toward fresh fish and vinegared rice, culminating in today’s nigiri, maki, and sashimi. First known English usage around the 1900s appeared in culinary writings and immigrant communities, with the term quickly popularized post-World War II as Japanese cuisine entered global restaurants.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Sushi" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Sushi" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Sushi" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Sushi"
-shi sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
