Learn How to Pronounce Shiraz | YouPronounce.it
How to Pronounce Shiraz
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)
Meaning and Context
Shiraz, a major city in the Fars Province of southwestern Iran, stands as a timeless cultural and historical epicenter, often celebrated as the heart of Persian civilization. Founded as a vital settlement over 4,000 years ago, it flourished as the capital of Iran under the Zand dynasty from 1750 to 1794, a golden age that endowed the city with magnificent gardens and architectural marvels. Shiraz is globally revered as the City of Poets, being the birthplace and final resting place of literary giants like Hafez and Saadi, whose mausoleums remain profound pilgrimage sites. Its legacy is further immortalized through its association with the world-famous Shiraz wine, historically produced from the local Shirazi grape, and its proximity to the awe-inspiring ruins of Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. As a key destination for cultural tourism in Iran, the city enchants visitors with its fragrant Eram Garden (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the vibrant Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (the "Pink Mosque"), and its annual Shiraz Arts Festival, cementing its status as a beacon of Persian art, literature, and garden design.
Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings
The primary spelling "Shiraz" is standard in English and is universally accepted. However, due to transliteration variations from the Persian script (شیراز), occasional alternate spellings such as "Shirāz" (using a macron to indicate the long 'a' sound) or "Shirazz" appear in older texts or for stylistic purposes, though the latter is incorrect. Common typos often involve simple letter transposition or omission, resulting in errors like "Shriaz," "Shirax," or "Shira." A related point of frequent confusion lies in the term "Syrah," which is the name of the same red grape variety known in Australia and other New World wine regions; "Shiraz" as a wine style refers specifically to the bold, fruit-forward expressions of the Syrah grape produced in Australia, distinct from the historical wine of the Iranian city. It is important to distinguish between references to the city of Shiraz and Shiraz/Syrah the grape in context to avoid ambiguity.
Example Sentences
No trip to Iran is complete without spending several days exploring the poetic atmosphere and historical wonders of Shiraz.
Visitors often begin their morning with a contemplative visit to the tomb of Hafez, where locals recite his verses.
The intricate stained-glass windows of the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque transform at sunrise into a breathtaking kaleidoscope of color on the Persian carpets.
Historians emphasize that while the Shiraz of today is a bustling modern city, its soul is forever linked to the ancient Achaemenid capital of Persepolis, just a short drive away.
In the world of viticulture, the Australian Shiraz grape produces a notably jammy and peppery wine, sharing its genetic identity with the French Syrah.
Related Pronunciations
- How to pronounce Elazığ
- How to pronounce Smyrna
- How to pronounce Tabriz
- How to pronounce Bzou
- How to pronounce Λευκωσία