How to pronounce noir
Say it like NOYR. Noir is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce noir. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/nɔɪr/NOYR
UK British/nwɑː/NWAH
- NOYR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Noir pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NOYRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of noir
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: NWAH.
What does noir mean?
adjective
- Of or pertaining to film noir, or the atmosphere associated with that genre
- Film noir.
- A production in the style of film noir.
Where does noir come from?
Shortened from film noir, and from French noir.
Questions about saying noir
How do you pronounce noir?
Say NOYR. The American pronunciation is /nɔɪr/. In British English it is /nwɑː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in noir?
Noir is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NOYR.
Is noir pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /nwɑː/ (NWAH).