How to Pronounce “silhouette”

American (US)

/ˌsɪlʊˈet/

British (UK)

/ˌsɪlʊˈet/

noun — The dark outline of something seen against a lighter background.

Example: The hills were a silhouette against the sunset.

Synonyms: outline, profile

The final e is silent. The transcription /ˌsɪlʊˈet/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “silhouette” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “silhouette” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˌsɪlʊˈet/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

What does "silhouette" mean?

silhouette (noun): The dark outline of something seen against a lighter background. For example — The hills were a silhouette against the sunset.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "silhouette", /ˌsɪlʊˈet/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "silhouette"?

/ˌsɪlʊˈet/ in American English, /ˌsɪlʊˈet/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "silhouette"?

“silhouette” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˌsɪlʊˈet/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

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