3 syllables: A, mour Pro, pre. Stress on mour Pro.
uh-MAWR-proh-pruh
/əˈmɔɹ proʊ-prə/
Amour Propre is pronounced uh-MAWR-proh-pruh (/əˈmɔɹ proʊ-prə/). It has three syllables (A-mour Pro-pre), with the stress on "mour Pro". As a noun, amour-propre is a French noun meaning self-respect or self-esteem, often referring to a sense of personal dignity tied to others’ opinions. In English-language usage it appears in phrases like “to hurt one’s amour-propre.” It denotes an intrinsic regard for one’s own worth, sometimes with moral or social implications, and can carry a slightly literary or formal tone.
nounAmour-propre is a French noun meaning self-respect or self-esteem, often referring to a sense of personal dignity tied to others’ opinions. In English-language usage it appears in phrases like “to hurt one’s amour-propre.” It denotes an intrinsic regard for one’s own worth, sometimes with moral or social implications, and can carry a slightly literary or formal tone.
"Her amour-propre forbade her from admitting defeat in the negotiations."
"He kept a careful guard over his amour-propre, unwilling to show weakness."
"The critique wounded his amour-propre more than his pride."
You pronounce it ah-MOOR PROPR. In IPA: US: əˈmuːr prɔːpr, UK: əˈmuːr prɒpr, AU: əˈmɔː pɹɒpɹ. Stress falls on the first syllable of each word: a-MOUR and PROPRE; the second word has a reduced final vowel in casual speech. The French vowels are fronted mid-close in 'amour' with a rounded lips for /uː/ and a lightly aspirated 'r' sound in many English-adopted pronunciations. Aim for a smooth liaison between the words: am-our pro-pра, with a slight pause between the two words.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress off the first syllable, pronouncing the second word with a heavy English 'r' or over-pronouncing the 'e' at the end; and flattening the final consonant so it sounds like 'prop' instead of 'pro-pr'. To correct: keep a clear secondary stress on the first word, soften the /r/ in American English or use a non-rhotic approach for formal speech, and end the second word with a light, almost silent final vowel to emulate the French ending. Focus on the transition between /muːr/ and /prɔpr/.
In US English, /əˈmuːr prɔːpr/ features rhoticity with a rhotic /r/ in both syllables and a long /uː/ in the first word. In UK English, /əˈmɔː ˈprɒpr/ often uses non-rhotic /r/ and a more open /ɔː/ in the first syllable; the final syllable may be folded with less emphasis. Australian tends to fall between US and UK, with a mild rhotic /r/ and a broad vowel quality: /əˈmɔː prɒpɹ/. Each accent will mirror typical French loanword adaptation—keep the two words distinct but flowing, and monitor vowel length and rhotics within each variant.
Because it blends two French-influenced words with subtle vowel lengths and a final consonant cluster that English speakers often gloss over. The combination of /uː/ in am-our, the nasal or non-nasal influences on the final /pr/, and the French-specific ending in -propre can challenge English-speaking articulators. The tongue position for /m/ and /l/ or /p/ in quick succession, plus potential liaison effects, makes it easy to misplace stress or mispronounce the final vowels. Practice slow, stress-targeted drills to stabilize the sequence.
Yes. English speakers often drop the French rounding in /uː/ and merge the final consonants of propretions, producing an approximate 'pro-pr' rather than the distinct /prɔpr/. Also, there is an expectation of a light vowel after the final 'e' in some pronunciations, which in French would be silent. The recommended practice is to hold a controlled French-like vowel length in the first word and maintain a crisp, lightly aspirated final cluster in the second word. Use IPA guides to ensure accuracy.
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Amour-propre derives from French, composed of two elements: amour (love) and propre (one’s own, proper). The term first appears in early modern French moral and philosophical discourse to denote self-regard arising from one’s own dignity rather than external validation. In Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment thought, it is contrasted with amour de l’honneur (love of honor) and is central to discussions of individuality, social status, and personal virtue. The hyphenated form emphasizes the inseparability of self-regard from one’s own moral compass, suggesting a self-reliant interior standard. In literature, philosophers such as Rousseau and Voltaire used the concept to critique vanity and to discuss the balance between authentic self-respect and aristocratic pretension. The term entered English usage through translations of French philosophical and literary works in the 18th and 19th centuries, maintaining a slightly formal or archaic connotation. Over time, amour-propre acquired nuanced meanings, ranging from a legitimate sense of self-worth to a pejorative sense of self-importance dependent on social approval. Today, it is most often encountered in scholarly or literary contexts and in discussions of etiquette, pride, and psychological self-regulation.
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