How to Pronounce “genre”

American (US)

/ˈʒɑːnrə/

British (UK)

/ˈʒɒ̃r/

noun — A category of artistic work marked by a shared style, form or subject.

Example: Detective fiction is her favourite genre.

Synonyms: category, style, type

A loanword from French. The initial g is the French /ʒ/ — the sound in the middle of “measure” or “vision”. English has no letter for it, which is why the word looks harder than it is.

Where the stress falls. “genre” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈʒɑːnrə/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈʒɑːnrə/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "genre" mean?

genre (noun): A category of artistic work marked by a shared style, form or subject. For example — Detective fiction is her favourite genre.

How do you pronounce "genre" in American vs British English?

American English: /ˈʒɑːnrə/. British English: /ˈʒɒ̃r/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "genre"?

/ˈʒɑːnrə/ in American English, /ˈʒɒ̃r/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "genre"?

“genre” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈʒɑːnrə/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

• French loanwords