How to pronounce effete
Say it like ih-FEET. Effete has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce effete. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ih
- FEET
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Effete pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FEETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of effete
American and British speakers say effete in essentially the same way: /ɪˈfit/ in the US and /ɪˈfiːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ih-FEET.
What does effete mean?
- Lacking strength or vitality; feeble, powerless, impotent.
- Decadent, weak through self-indulgence.
- Affected, overrefined.
Where does effete come from?
From Latin effētus (“exhausted”, literally “that has given birth”), 1620s.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with effete
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of effete.
Questions about saying effete
How do you pronounce effete?
Say ih-FEET. The American pronunciation is /ɪˈfit/. In British English it is /ɪˈfiːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in effete?
Effete has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEET). Broken into parts: ih · FEET.
Do Americans and Brits say effete the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪˈfit/ and the British form is /ɪˈfiːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.