How to pronounce facade
Facade, a borrowed French word used in English, is one of those tricky words many people often mispronounce due to its silent final “e”. It comes as no surprise that the correct pronunciation might not be immediately obvious to non-native speakers or those unfamiliar with French pronunciation rules.
The word “facade” refers to the front exterior of a building and has been widely adopted in architectural terminology. Although it’s a relatively common word, its pronunciation can cause confusion among English speakers.
To pronounce “facade” correctly, we need to focus on two key pronunciation elements: the stressed syllable and the vowel sound. The word has a primary stress on the first syllable, followed by a secondary stress on the last syllable. Therefore, the correct pronunciation is “fuh-SAHD”, with the emphasis on the first syllable and a slight emphasis on the last syllable.
It’s important to note that English words sometimes have borrowed pronunciations, and “facade” is a perfect example of this phenomenon. The original French pronunciation is more nasal and softer, with the final syllable sounding closer to “d”. However, in English, we typically pronounce it with a hard final “d” sound.
Pronunciation of facade in English
The word “facade” is pronounced as /fəˈsɑːd/ in English. It is a borrowed French word that refers to the front exterior of a building. However, its pronunciation has slightly changed in English and is now commonly pronounced with a short ‘a’ sound.
| Phonetic Symbol | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| /f/ | f |
| /ə/ | a schwa sound (similar to the ‘u’ in ‘but’) |
| /s/ | s |
| /ɑː/ | a short ‘a’ sound (similar to the ‘a’ in ‘father’) |
| /d/ | d |
When pronouncing “facade,” make sure to stress the second syllable, the ‘sɑːd’ sound. Practice saying the word a few times to become more comfortable with its pronunciation.
It’s worth noting that the pronunciation might vary slightly depending on dialect or accent. However, the given pronunciation is the most common and widely accepted one in English.
Tips for pronouncing facade correctly
Pronouncing the word “facade” correctly can be a bit challenging for non-native English speakers. Here are some tips to help you pronounce it accurately:
1. Focus on the first syllable: The stress in the word “facade” falls on the first syllable. Make sure to give it emphasis and pronounce it clearly.
2. Say “fa” like “fuh”: The “a” sound in the word is pronounced like the short “u” sound in the word “fun.” Say it like “fuh”
3. Pronounce “cade” like “cade”: The second syllable “cade” should be pronounced just like the word “cade” which rhymes with “fade.”
Putting it all together, the correct pronunciation of “facade” should sound like “fuh-kade.”
Note: It’s important to practice the correct pronunciation of words like “facade” in order to improve your English speaking skills.
Examples of sentences with the word facade
1. The old building had a beautiful facade adorned with intricate carvings.
2. Despite his friendly facade, John was actually quite aloof and distant.
3. The company’s facade of success fooled many investors into thinking it was profitable.
4. She kept up a brave facade despite the pain she was feeling.
5. His charming facade hid the fact that he was a manipulative and deceitful person.
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