How to pronounce finesse
Say it like fih-NES. Finesse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce finesse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- fih
- NES
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Finesse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- fihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- NESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of finesse
American and British speakers say finesse in essentially the same way: /fɪˈnɛs/ in the US and /fɪˈnɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: fih-NES.
What does finesse mean?
- A skill in the handling or manipulation of a situation.
- The property of having elegance, grace, refinement, or skill.
- An adroit maneuver.
- To evade (a problem, situation, etc.) by using some clever argument or stratagem.
- To handle or manage carefully or skilfully; to manipulate in a crafty way.
- To obtain something from someone through trickery or manipulation.
Where does finesse come from?
From Middle English finesse (“a degree of excellence; (of metal) fineness, purity”), from Middle French finesse, Old French finesse (“a fineness; a delicacy; slenderness”), from fine, fin (“fine, thin”) (from Latin fīnis (“an end”); compare
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with finesse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of finesse.
Questions about saying finesse
How do you pronounce finesse?
Say fih-NES. The American pronunciation is /fɪˈnɛs/. In British English it is /fɪˈnɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in finesse?
Finesse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NES). Broken into parts: fih · NES.
Do Americans and Brits say finesse the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /fɪˈnɛs/ and the British form is /fɪˈnɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.