Home › Glossary › Letter S

Salwar

Apparel
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Loose trousers gathered at the ankles, worn in South Asian dress.

Detailed Definition
Salwar refers to loose trousers, often pleated or gathered near the waist and narrowing toward the ankles, worn with a tunic or coordinating ensemble. Its generous fabric supports sitting, walking, and movement while retaining a formal identity. In verse, folds of salwar can hold dust from a road, the scent of spice, or the quiet dignity of work. The garment makes cultural belonging visible through everyday ease.
Example
Example in poetry:
The traveler wrapped a warm salwar beneath her long tunic before dawn; In the poem, the loose salwar gives the speaker room to walk through dust and distance; A cotton salwar dries quickly beside the village well; The poet describes the salwar as practical clothing that still carries grace
Additional Notes
Salwar refers to loose trousers gathered at or near the ankles, commonly worn with a kameez, kurta, or other South Asian tunic. The relaxed cut supports comfortable movement. Salwar styles range from moderately loose to very full, while the complete outfit is often called a salwar kameez.
Also Known As
Salwar Pants Shalwar
Skip to main content