Proper Pronunciation Guide

Champs Élysée

[ˏʃɑn ze͜i li ze͜i]

Tips:

  • Pronounce this compound noun as four syllables, giving a minor stress to the first syllable and the major stress to the final syllable.
  • Pronounce the letters “ch” as
    /ʃ/.
  • Pronounce the letter “a” as
    /ɑ/ but nasalize it slightly and follow it with a very short
    /n/.
  • Do not pronounce the letter “p.”
  • Pronounce the letter “s” as
    /z/ and link it to the next word.
  • Pronounce the first letter “e” like the name of the letter “a”
    /e͜i/.
  • Pronounce the letter “y” like the name of the letter “e”—
    /i/.
  • Pronounce the second letter “s” also as
    /z/.
  • Pronounce the final double “e” like the name of the letter “a”—
    /e͜i/ —and stress it, making the second and fourth syllables homophones: [ze͜i]

Practice Sentence:

The French and American presidents came down the Champs Élysée in an open car waving to the crowds of Parisians lining the boulevard.

Definition:

  • (proper noun) A very wide boulevard in Paris ending at the Arc de Triomphe and known for its many outdoor cafés and shops.

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