How to pronounce “shame”
Shame is pronounced /ˈʃeɪm/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“shame” sound by sound
“shame” is built out of 3 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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ʃPull the tongue slightly back from the /s/ position, spread the blade wide behind the ridge, round the lips a little, and push air through with no voice.
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eɪStart at the /e/ position and glide upward and forward toward /ɪ/ — the jaw closes as you say it.
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mClose the lips, lower the soft palate and let the voiced air come out through the nose.
Silent letters in “shame”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “shame”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “shame”
Each of these differs from “shame” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “shame”
- How do you pronounce “shame”?
- “shame” is pronounced /ˈʃeɪm/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “shame”?
- “shame” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- Does “shame” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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