Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

embarras

/ɒmbəˈɹɑː/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.54 in modern English

Syllables: em-bar-ras
IPA: /ɒmbəˈɹɑː/

12

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Embarrassment; confusion, uncertainty.

Archaic; Countable; Uncountable

noun

An embarrassment; an obstacle or hindrance.

Archaic; Countable; Uncountable

noun

Embarrassment; intense social awkwardness.

Archaic; Countable; Uncountable

noun

A clump of driftwood obstructing a waterway.

Canadian usage; American usage; Archaic; Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"I […] envy & sympathise—being in all sorts of embarrass now, myself, over the finish of many things."
"[O]ne day in his way to the opera, his chariot was stopped by an embarras in the street, occasioned by two peasants, who having driven their carts against each other, quarrelled, and went to loggerheads on the spot."

Etymology

From French embarras.

Origin

Source language: French

Word Breakdown

Root: embarras

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ɒmbəˈɹɑː/

Usage

Questions

How do you pronounce embarras?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɒmbəˈɹɑː/.
What does embarras mean?: Embarrassment; confusion, uncertainty.
Where does embarras come from?: It is traced to French.

How to pronounce embarras

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “embarras”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɒmbəˈɹɑː/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “embarras”.
Repeat and practice — Say “embarras” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.