How to pronounce bouillabaisse
Say it like BOO-yuh-bays. Bouillabaisse has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bouillabaisse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOO
- yuh
- bays
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bouillabaisse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- yuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- baysGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of bouillabaisse
American and British speakers say bouillabaisse in essentially the same way: /ˈbujəˌbeɪs/ in the US and /ˈbuːjəˌbeɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: BOO-yuh-bays.
What does bouillabaisse mean?
- A type of fish soup or stew from Provence, France.
- A chaotic, disorganized mixture; a confused hodgepodge.
Where does bouillabaisse come from?
Borrowed from French bouillabaisse, from Occitan bolhabaissa, bouiabaisso, possibly a compound of bolhir (“to boil”) + abaissar (“to lower (the temperature)”).
Questions about saying bouillabaisse
How do you pronounce bouillabaisse?
Say BOO-yuh-bays. The American pronunciation is /ˈbujəˌbeɪs/. In British English it is /ˈbuːjəˌbeɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bouillabaisse?
Bouillabaisse has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOO). Broken into parts: BOO · yuh · bays.
Do Americans and Brits say bouillabaisse the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbujəˌbeɪs/ and the British form is /ˈbuːjəˌbeɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.