How to pronounce ennui
Say it like ahn-WEE. Ennui has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ennui. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ahn
- WEE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ennui pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ahnKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- WEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of ennui
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: on-WEE.
What does ennui mean?
- A gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom; depression.
- To make bored or listless; to weary.
Where does ennui come from?
Unadapted borrowing from French ennui, from Old French enui (“annoyance”), from enuier (modern French ennuyer), from Late Latin inodiō, from Latin in odiō (“hated”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ennui
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ennui.
Questions about saying ennui
How do you pronounce ennui?
Say ahn-WEE. The American pronunciation is /ɑnˈwi/. In British English it is /ɒnˈwiː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ennui?
Ennui has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WEE). Broken into parts: ahn · WEE.
Is ennui pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ɒnˈwiː/ (on-WEE).