How to pronounce bourgeoisie
Say it like boorzh-woz-EE. Bourgeoisie has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (EE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bourgeoisie. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- boorzh
- woz
- EE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bourgeoisie pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- boorzhGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- wozGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- EESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of bourgeoisie
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: boorzh-woz-EE.
What does bourgeoisie mean?
- The capitalist class.
Where does bourgeoisie come from?
Unadapted borrowing from French bourgeoisie, from bourgeois (“a class of citizens who were wealthier members of the Third Estate”), from bourgeois, “burghers”, i.e., townspeople.
Words that rhyme with bourgeoisie
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bourgeoisie.
Questions about saying bourgeoisie
How do you pronounce bourgeoisie?
Say boorzh-woz-EE. The American pronunciation is /ˌbʊrʒˌwɑˈzi/. In British English it is /ˌbʊəʒˌwɒˈziː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bourgeoisie?
Bourgeoisie has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (EE). Broken into parts: boorzh · woz · EE.
Is bourgeoisie 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 /ˌbʊəʒˌwɒˈziː/ (boorzh-woz-EE).