How to pronounce bourgeois
Say it like BOORZH-wo. Bourgeois has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOORZH).
- BOORZH
- wo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: The ending -geois sounds like 'zhwah': 'boor-ZHWAH'.
Bourgeois pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOORZHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- woKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of bourgeois
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BOORZH-wah.
Other ways to say bourgeois
Bourgeois also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- boorzh-WAH /bʊrʒˈwɑ/
What does bourgeois mean?
- Of or relating to the middle class (often derogatory), and their presumed overly conventional, conservative, and materialistic values.“bourgeois opinion”
- Of or relating to the capitalist class, (usually derogatory) the capitalist exploitation of the proletariat.
- The middle class.
- An individual member of the middle class.
- An individual member of the bourgeoisie, the third estate of the French Ancien Regime.
- To make bourgeois.
Where does bourgeois come from?
Unadapted borrowing from French bourgeois (“a class of citizens who were wealthier members of the Third Estate”), from Old French burgeis (“town dweller”), from Frankish *burg, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *burgz (“stronghold; city”) (whence borough).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying bourgeois
How do you pronounce bourgeois?
Say BOORZH-wo. The American pronunciation is /ˈbʊrʒwɑ/. In British English it is /ˈbʊəʒwɑː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bourgeois?
Bourgeois has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOORZH). Broken into parts: BOORZH · wo.
Is bourgeois pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbʊəʒwɑː/ (BOORZH-wah).