Sake is an alcoholic beverage of Japanese origin that is made from fermented rice. It is sometimes spelled saki or saké. Although it is widely pronounced in English ending with a long ē sound, a more accurate Japanese pronunciation ends with a short "-eh" sound, as in sa-keh. In the Japanese language it is called nihonshu (日本酒 "Japanese alcohol"). Sake is often referred to in English-speaking countries as rice wine; however, this term is a misnomer.