Proper Pronunciation Guide

raison d’etre

[re͜i zo͜un dɛt̚ trə]

Tips:

  • Pronounce the first syllable like the word “ray.”
  • Pronounce the letter “s” as the voiced consonant
    /z/.
  • Pronounce the letter “o” like the name of the letter itself—
    /o͜u/.
  • Pronounce the third syllable like the word “debt” [dɛt] and stress it.
  • Pronounce a very light, quick, unstressed fourth syllable by releasing
    /t/ into a very slight [rə].

Practice Sentence:

 The program's raison d'etre was to bring about greater racial harmony.

Definition:

  • (noun) The primary reason or justification for a thing’s very existence.

Notes:

Since this word, or phrase, is borrowed from French, a more French pronunciation may be achieved by 1) pronouncing only the beginning of the diphthong /o͜u/ so that it sounds like /o/ and slightly nasalizing it, 2) not fully pronouncing the following /n/, and finally 3) pronouncing the final syllable [rə] more as a grace note in music rather than as a full syllable.

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