How to pronounce "nègre" in English
ənˈɡreɪ
ən·GRAY
Primary stress: GRAY
Hear native speakers say nègre in context across real video clips
Linguistic Pronunciation Masterclass: “nègre”
Phonetic mechanics, syllable architecture, and conversational cadence
Syllable Architecture & Stress Distribution
ən
Neutral schwa (⁄ə⁄): relaxed jaw, brief unstressed breath.
GRAY
Gliding diphthong with sustained vocal resonance.
Primary emphasis falls on the second syllable ("GRAY"). Raise your pitch and sustain the vowel length on this syllable while relaxing the surrounding syllables.
Common Pronunciation Traps & Learner Mistakes
The Trap: Avoid pronouncing every vowel with full acoustic weight. Non-native speakers often over-enunciate unstressed vowels.
How Native Speakers Say It: Only give full vowel clarity to the primary stressed syllable. Relax all unstressed vowels into a neutral, low-energy schwa (⁄ə⁄).
Connected Speech & Natural Conversational Flow
When followed by a vowel, insert a subtle glide (/w/ or /j/) to connect into the subsequent word without an abrupt glottal stop.
In natural sentences, avoid over-stressing "nègre" unless it conveys the core contrast or focal point of your message.
Authentic Spoken Quotes from Native Video Context
“I played Debussy’s masterpiece Le Petit Nègre.”— TEDx TalksWatch clip
“In 1925, at age 19, Josephine Baker moved to France to star in “La Revue nègre” and became an instant star.”— TEDx TalksWatch clip
Practice Speaking “nègre”
Listen to native pronunciation, record yourself repeating the sentence into your microphone, and receive real-time word-by-word accuracy scoring.
I played Debussy’s masterpiece Le Petit Nègre.
Hear it in context: “nègre”
5 clipsThe English word “nègre” is transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as ənˈɡreɪ (phonetic respelling: ən-GRAY). Phonologically, it consists of 2 syllables (ən · GRAY), with primary lexical stress placed on the 2nd syllable (GRAY). Grammatically, “nègre” functions as a proper noun. SayItVid indexes 5 authentic English video clips demonstrating how native speakers articulate “nègre” in natural connected speech across American (US: 2 sampled), British (UK), and Australian (AUS) accents, including verified broadcasts from TEDx Talks.
Spoken Video Transcripts & Contextual Quotes (2 Verified Clips)
- 🇺🇸 USTEDx TalksClip #1 · @0:24
“with nerves fluttering like a melody, yet to find its rhythm, I played Debussy’s masterpiece Le Petit Nègre. Despite the tremors of anxiety coursing through my veins,”
- 🇺🇸 USTEDx TalksClip #2 · @1:11
“to perform at different Broadway musicals and jazz clubs. In 1925, at age 19, Josephine Baker moved to France to star in “La Revue nègre” and became an instant star. Josephine Baker moved to France to star in “La Revue nègre””
Definition & Meaning: “nègre”
- Ngre is a rare surname or geographic name encountered in specific regional contexts.
Example Sentences (3)
- “He introduced himself as Mr. Ngre during the meeting.”
- “I played Debussy’s masterpiece Le Petit Nègre.”
- “In 1925, at age 19, Josephine Baker moved to France to star in “La Revue nègre” and became an instant star.”
Pronounce: “nègre”
- Pronunciation:
- ən-GRAY
- Syllables:
- ən · GRAY
- Written Hyphenation:
- n · gre
- Primary stress:
- GRAY
- IPA:
- ənˈɡreɪ
- Hear it in context
- nègre
Words that Rhyme with “nègre”
-eɪWords that Sound Identical (Homophones)
Unique Sound"nègre" (⁄ənˈɡreɪ⁄) has no true homophones in standard English — there are no other words with identical pronunciation. Unlike sound-alike pairs like there / their or peace / piece, "nègre" has a completely distinct phonetic identity.
Frequently asked questions about nègre
How do you pronounce “nègre”?
“nègre” is pronounced ⁄ənˈɡreɪ⁄ (ən-GRAY). Listen to the native-speaker clips above to hear it in real conversation.
How many syllables are in “nègre”?
“nègre” has 2 syllables: ən · GRAY.
Where is the stress in “nègre”?
The primary stress in “nègre” is on “GRAY”. Listen for that stressed syllable in the clips above.
What does “nègre” mean?
Ngre is a rare surname or geographic name encountered in specific regional contexts.
How can I hear “nègre” used in real sentences?
This page has 5 real-world video examples of “nègre” with synchronized subtitles. Use Previous / Next (or ← / → keys) to hear each one at the exact moment it is spoken.
What is the most common pronunciation mistake when saying “nègre”?
Avoid pronouncing every vowel with full acoustic weight. Non-native speakers often over-enunciate unstressed vowels. Only give full vowel clarity to the primary stressed syllable. Relax all unstressed vowels into a neutral, low-energy schwa (⁄ə⁄).