How to pronounce guillemet
Say it like ghee-MAY. Guillemet has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce guillemet. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ghee
- MAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Guillemet pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- gheeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- MAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of guillemet
American and British speakers say guillemet in essentially the same way: /ˌɡiˈmeɪ/ in the US and /ˌɡiːˈmeɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: ghee-MAY.
What does guillemet mean?
- Either of the punctuation marks « or » (or ‹ or ›), used in several languages to indicate passages of speech. Similar to typical quotation marks used in the English language, such as “ and ”.
Where does guillemet come from?
From French guillemet, diminutive form of the name Guillaume (“William”), named after French typecutter Guillaume Le Bé (1525–1598) who supposedly invented the marks.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with guillemet
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of guillemet.
Questions about saying guillemet
How do you pronounce guillemet?
Say ghee-MAY. The American pronunciation is /ˌɡiˈmeɪ/. In British English it is /ˌɡiːˈmeɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in guillemet?
Guillemet has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MAY). Broken into parts: ghee · MAY.
Do Americans and Brits say guillemet the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɡiˈmeɪ/ and the British form is /ˌɡiːˈmeɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.