noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/samˈbʊkə/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/sæmˈbukə/
rhymes with -uːkə
rhymes with -ʊkə
UK:/samˈbjuːkə/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/sæmˈb(j)ukə/
CMU ARPABET:S AE2 M B Y UW1 K AH0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice, traditionally served with 3 coffee beans that represent health, wealth and fortune (or past, present and future).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An ancient form of triangular harp having a very sharp, shrill tone.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An ancient type of ship-borne siege engine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
an Italian liqueur made with elderberries and flavored with licorice
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: liqueur, cordial
History
Etymology
] Borrowed from Italian sambuca, from Latin sambūcus (“elder tree”), due to a similar 19th century liquor flavored with elderflower. Modern sambuca, which doesn't necessarily have elderberry, started being marketed in 1971.
From Latin sambūca, from Ancient Greek σαμβύκη (sambúkē), ultimately from Aramaic סַבְּכָא (sabbəḵā).
Across languages
Translations
24 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
سَامْبُوكَا
(sambūka)
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Finnish:
sambuca
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
French:
sambuca
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
German:
Sambuca
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Greek:
σαμπούκα
(sampoúka)
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Italian:
sambuca
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Japanese:
サンブーカ
(sanbūka)
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Korean:
삼부카
(sambuka)
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Polish:
sambuca
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Russian:
самбу́ка
(sambúka)
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Sicilian:
savuca
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Spanish:
sambuca
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Swedish:
sambuca
— Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice
Aramaic:
סַבְּכָא
(sabbəḵā)
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
Finnish:
sambuca
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
French:
sambuque
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
Greek:
σαμβύκη
(samvýki)
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
Ancient Greek:
σαμβύκη
(sambúkē)
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
Italian:
sambuca
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
Latin:
sambūca
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
Polish:
sambuka
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
Russian:
самби́ка
(sambíka)
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
Spanish:
sambuca
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
Swedish:
sambuca
— ancient triangular harp having a sharp, shrill tone
