Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

shamus

/ˈʃɑːməs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.35 in modern English

Syllables: shamus
IPA: /ˈʃɑːməs/

11

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A private detective; originally, a policeman or police detective.

American usage; Slang

name

Alternative spelling of Seamus.

Example Sentences

"“That's what you're here for. Didn't your aunt tell you? She wants you to follow Wilbert Cream and Phyllis about everywhere and see that he doesn't get a chance of proposing.” “You mean that I'm to be a sort of private eye or shamus, tailing them up? I don't like it,” I said dubiously."

Etymology

Said to be from the Irish name Séamus, on account of many American police officers being of Irish descent.

Usage

American usage
Slang

Inflected Forms

shamuses (plural) shami (plural)

Derived Forms

shamus

Synonyms

private detective pi private eye private investigator operative sherlock

Homonyms

Séamus (of -ā-/-eɪ-/-eI- pronunciation)

Rhymes With

famous amos seamus squamous ignoramus ramus mandamus world-famous hamous

Questions

How do you pronounce shamus?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈʃɑːməs/.
What does shamus mean?: A private detective; originally, a policeman or police detective.
Where does shamus come from?: Said to be from the Irish name Séamus, on account of many American police officers being of Irish descent.

How to pronounce shamus

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