How to pronounce madeleine
Say it like mad-uh-LEN. Madeleine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce madeleine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mad
- uh
- LEN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Madeleine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- madGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of madeleine
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 3, while British speakers stress syllable 1.
British respelling: MAD-uh-lin.
What does madeleine mean?
- A French type of small gateau or sponge cake, often shaped like an elongated scallop shell.
- Something which brings back a memory; a source of nostalgia or evocative memories.
Where does madeleine come from?
In sense 2, used with reference to the cake's function in the extract below, taken from Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time.
Words that rhyme with madeleine
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of madeleine.
Questions about saying madeleine
How do you pronounce madeleine?
Say mad-uh-LEN. The American pronunciation is /ˌmædəˈlɛn/. In British English it is /ˈmædəlɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in madeleine?
Madeleine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LEN). Broken into parts: mad · uh · LEN.
Is madeleine pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 3, while British speakers stress syllable 1. The British form is /ˈmædəlɪn/ (MAD-uh-lin).