The word samurai is divided into 3 syllables: sa·mu·rai. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The phonetic transcription of samurai:
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Borrowed from Japanese 侍 (samurai). From Japanese 侍 (samurai). Borrowed from Japanese 侍(さむらい) (samurai). Borrowed from Japanese 侍 (さむらい, samurai, archaic さぶらい, saburai), 連用形 (ren'yōkei, stem or continuative form) of the classical verb 侍ふ (saburafu, “to serve”), ultimately derived from さ (sa-, prefix meaning "early") + 守らふ (morafu, “to keep watch”). Borrowed from Japanese 侍 (samurai). Borrowed from French samouraï.
Understanding how to break down samurai into syllables helps with:
Compare samurai with related words to understand syllable patterns:
| Word | Syllables | Division |
|---|---|---|
| samurai | 3 | sa·mu·rai |
| shimmery | 3 | shim-me-ry |
| sooner | 2 | soon-er |
| Samara | 3 | sa-ma-ra |
| schemer | 2 | schem-er |
Explore syllable divisions of words related to samurai:
samurai has 3 syllables: sa·mu·rai. The word is divided into 3 distinct sound units that make up the complete pronunciation.
The stress is on the first syllable: sa. This means you emphasize the "sa" part when pronouncing samurai.
samurai is pronounced as /ˈsæm(j)ʊɹaɪ/ (IPA notation). The syllables are divided as: sa·mu·rai.
Breaking samurai into syllables helps with spelling: sa·mu·rai. By pronouncing each syllable separately, you can identify the letters more easily and avoid common spelling mistakes.
Learning syllable division helps with correct pronunciation, improved spelling, better reading fluency, and is useful for poetry and lyric writing where syllable counting matters. It's especially helpful for language learners.