How to Pronounce "cuisine"
The correct pronunciation of "cuisine" is kwih-ZEEN /kwɪˈziːn/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "KYOO-zine" habit for good.
cuisine
/kwɪˈziːn/A style of cooking, especially of a particular country or region.
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Record yourself saying “cuisine” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "KYOO-zine" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying "KYOO-zine", "koo-ZINE" (rhyming with "wine"), or "kyoo-ee-zine". | kwih-ZEEN /kwɪˈziːn/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | Second syllable (ZEEN). |
How Do You Pronounce "cuisine"?
"cuisine" is pronounced kwih-ZEEN /kwɪˈziːn/. The stress is on the second syllable (ZEEN). As a noun, it means a style of cooking, especially of a particular country or region.
The "cui" is "kwih" (with a w-glide), and the stress falls on "ZEEN": kwih-ZEEN.
Listen for the stressed syllable and copy its rhythm — getting the stress right matters more than any single sound.
Say "cuisine" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
kwih-ZEEN — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
Second syllable (ZEEN). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
The "cui" is "kwih" (with a w-glide), and the stress falls on "ZEEN": kwih-ZEEN.
Blend and repeat
Now say "cuisine" at normal speed: kwih-ZEEN. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "cuisine" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
quick → kwi
The cui starts with the w-glide of quick.
seen → ZEEN
Long ee with a buzzing z; the stress lands here.
NOT KYOO-zine — kwih-ZEEN
No kyoo, and the ending never rhymes with wine.
Italian cuisine — kwih-ZEEN
Glide kwih, punch ZEEN at speed.
Why "cuisine" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
The "ui" spelling is rare in English, and French loanwords keep vowel patterns that Indian languages do not use.
Tip: Start with "kwi" (like the start of "quick"), then a long "ZEEN": kwih-ZEEN.
Hear “cuisine” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
South Indian cuisine is famous for its dosas.
The restaurant offers Italian cuisine.
I want to try Thai cuisine this weekend.
Words Related to "cuisine"
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "cuisine" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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