Chemise is a loose-fitting, sleeved undergarment or dress of lightweight fabric, typically worn by women. In fashion contexts it also refers to a sheer or delicate nightdress. The term is often used to describe a simple, unstructured garment that remains close to the body’s shape when worn under outerwear or as a standalone nightwear piece.
"She wore a satin chemise under her evening gown."
"The vintage chemise features delicate lace along the neckline."
"During the summer, I sleep in a light cotton chemise."
"The boutique carried a range of chemise silhouettes, from minimalist to softly draped."
Chemise originates from the French word chemise, meaning a shirt or shift, which itself derives from the Late Latin sica or sciāba, terms tied to a basic clothing undergarment. In Old French, chemise referred to a simple garment worn next to the skin, and the word entered English in the 14th century as a general term for a shift or undergarment. By the 18th and 19th centuries, chemise in English primarily described a loose-fitting, light underdress or sleepwear, often constructed from fine fabrics such as cotton, linen, or silk. The garment’s name reflects its foundational role in women’s innerwear and its evolution alongside fashion silhouettes, from functional undergarment to a standalone nightdress and, in contemporary usage, a fashion piece that can be sheer or elegantly simple. The term has remained relatively stable in Western fashion lexicon, retaining its French roots while adopting English pronunciation and orthography. The word’s popularity in fashion discourse is reinforced by vintage and haute-couture references, where it denotes both a functional layer and a stylistic garment. First known use in English appears in the 16th–17th centuries in manuscripts and fashion treatises, later proliferating in 18th–19th century fashion plates and literature.”,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Chemise" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Chemise" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Chemise"
-ase sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ʃəˈmiːz/ in US/UK/AU. The word has two syllables with secondary stress on the first? Actually primary stress on the second syllable: che-MISE. Start with a soft 'sh' /ʃ/, then a schwa /ə/, then a long 'ee' /iː/ and end with a voiced 'z' /z/. You’ll hear it as she-MEES in casual speech but standard is /ʃəˈmiːz/. Practice with 'the chemise' as a phrase: the /ðə/ then /ʃəˈmiːz/.
Common errors include pronouncing it as she-MISE (/ʃəˈmaɪz/) using the 'ai' diphthong instead of /iː/ because of final 'ise' in some speakers’ expectations. Another mistake is stressing the first syllable (CHE-mise) instead of the second (che-MISE), which changes meaning in English rhythm. Lastly, many learners drop the /ə/ schwa between /ʃ/ and /ˈmiːz/, saying /ʃmiːz/ instead of /ʃəˈmiːz/. To fix: keep the unstressed mid-vowel /ə/ in the first syllable and maintain the long /iː/ before the final /z/.
In US/UK/AU, chemise consistently uses /ʃəˈmiːz/. The divergence lies in surrounding sounds and vowel color; US vowels can be flatter, with less lip rounding in some speakers, while UK vowels might be a touch more clipped or rounded depending on regional accents. Australian English tends toward a broader vowel quality, but chemise remains non-rhotic rhythm with the r-less environment; the word itself stays with the schwa-plus-long-e pattern and final /z/. Overall, the core phonemes remain the same across these accents.
Because it contains a silent-like expectation of 'ise' producing a long 'ee' /iː/ with a 'z' ending that can be misheard as 'ize' in American spelling. The challenge is sustaining the unstressed schwa between /ʃ/ and /miː/ and ensuring the second syllable carries the primary stress. The final /z/ can blend with the preceding long vowel if spoken quickly. Practicing with ʃ-ə-miː-z and using a steady beat helps manage the rhythm and vowel length.
In chemise, the final 'e' is not silent; it signals the preceding vowel's length and quality. The ending 'ise' corresponds to the /iːz/ sequence, where the 'e' helps indicate a long 'ee' sound and a voiced /z/. Practically, you don’t pronounce a separate extra sound for the 'e'; instead, you combine the vowel with the 'z' to produce /iːz/. Paying attention to the second syllable’s length ensures you’re not ending with a quick /z/ after a short vowel.
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