How to Pronounce "silhouette"
The correct pronunciation of "silhouette" is sil-oo-ET /ˌsɪluˈet/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "sil-HOO-et" habit for good.
silhouette
/ˌsɪluˈet/The dark outline or shape of a person or object against a lighter background.
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Record yourself saying “silhouette” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "sil-HOO-et" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying "sil-HOO-et" and voicing the 'h', or stressing the wrong beat. | sil-oo-ET /ˌsɪluˈet/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | Last syllable (ET). |
How Do You Pronounce "silhouette"?
"silhouette" is pronounced sil-oo-ET /ˌsɪluˈet/. The stress is on the last syllable (ET). As a noun, it means the dark outline or shape of a person or object against a lighter background.
The 'h' is silent and the ending is a stressed 'et': sil-oo-ET.
Listen for the stressed syllable and copy its rhythm — getting the stress right matters more than any single sound.
Say "silhouette" 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
sil-oo-ET — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
Last syllable (ET). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
The 'h' is silent and the ending is a stressed 'et': sil-oo-ET.
Blend and repeat
Now say "silhouette" at normal speed: sil-oo-ET. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "silhouette" (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.
sil → sil-oo-ET
The 'h' is silent; stress the last beat.
NOT sil-HOO-et — sil-oo-ET
No 'h' sound at all.
Say at speed: "I saw his silhouette in the doorway."
Keep the 'h' silent.
Why "silhouette" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
Indian speakers voice the written 'h', but in this French loanword the 'h' is silent and the stress is on the final 'et'.
Tip: Skip the 'h': say 'sil', 'oo', then a stressed 'ET': sil-oo-ET.
Hear “silhouette” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
I saw his silhouette in the doorway.
The dress has a slim silhouette.
Draw the silhouette of the tree.
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "silhouette" 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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