How to pronounce politesse
Say it like pol-uh-TES. Politesse has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce politesse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pol
- uh
- TES
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Politesse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- polKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of politesse
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: pol-ih-TES.
What does politesse mean?
- Civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry; genteel politeness or an instance of this.
Where does politesse come from?
From French politesse, from Italian politezza, from polito, past participle of pulire (“to clean”), from Latin polire, present active infinite form of poliō (“to polish”).
Words that rhyme with politesse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of politesse.
Questions about saying politesse
How do you pronounce politesse?
Say pol-uh-TES. The American pronunciation is /pɑləˈtɛs/. In British English it is /pɒlɪˈtɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in politesse?
Politesse has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TES). Broken into parts: pol · uh · TES.
Is politesse 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 /pɒlɪˈtɛs/ (pol-ih-TES).