A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Chicken Souvlaki
Learn to pronounce chicken souvlaki, the popular Greek grilled meat dish, with this easy guide.
chicken souvlaki
CHIK-uhn SOOV-lah-kee
/ˈtʃɪk.ən ˈsuːv.lɑː.ki/ · chik · uhn · SOOV · lah · kee
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It's also a common dish discussed when talking about popular Greek street food or grilled meats.
Where the word comes from
Souvlaki is a Greek word meaning 'skewer', derived from the Latin 'subula' meaning 'awl'. Chicken is of Old English origin.
Common ways people get it wrong
- CHIK-en SOO-vlack-ee The 'a' in 'souvlaki' is pronounced like the 'a' in 'father', not like the 'a' in 'apple'. The final syllable is 'kee', not 'kye'.
- CHICK-en SOO-vlack-ee The first syllable is unstressed and should be a short 'i' sound, like 'chik', not a long 'i' like 'chick'.
Frequently asked
Is souvlaki always on a skewer?
Yes, 'souvlaki' literally means 'skewer' in Greek. The meat is typically grilled on small skewers.
What's the difference between souvlaki and gyro?
Souvlaki is usually grilled meat on a skewer, often served in a pita. Gyro is meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie and thinly sliced, also commonly served in a pita.
