2 syllables: A, mour. Stress on mour.
ah-MOOR
/ˌɑˈmuɹ/
Amour is pronounced ah-MOOR (/ˌɑˈmuɹ/). It has two syllables (A-mour), with the stress on "mour". Amour is a French noun meaning romantic love, often used in English to evoke a sense of French passion or elegance. It refers to love in a romantic sense, typically in artistic or literary contexts, and is commonly found in phrases or titles. In English discourse, it’s treated as a loanword with French pronunciation and nuance.
nounAmour is a French noun meaning romantic love, often used in English to evoke a sense of French passion or elegance. It refers to love in a romantic sense, typically in artistic or literary contexts, and is commonly found in phrases or titles. In English discourse, it’s treated as a loanword with French pronunciation and nuance.
"They whispered of amour under the Parisian moon."
"The film’s central theme is amours lost and found."
"She wore a scarf with the word amour emblazoned in script."
Pronounce as /əˈmuːr/ in US, and /əˈmuːə/ in UK. Start with a schwa syllable, then a stressed 'mu' as in 'mood,' and end with a silent or light 'r' depending on accent. In US, the final r is pronounced; in non-rhotic British contexts, the r may be weaker. Practice by stretching the vowel in 'mood' and rounding lips slightly on 'mour' to capture the French influence.
Two common errors: (1) pronouncing the second syllable as /ɑʊ/ or /aʊ/ instead of /uː/; (2) turning the final /r/ into a strong American 'r' when in non-rhotic contexts. Correction: keep the second syllable closer to /muː/ with rounded lips, and either soften or lightly pronounce the /r/ depending on your target accent. Listen to native speakers and mimic the ‘schwa + /muː/’ rhythm.
In US English, /əˈmuːr/ with a pronounced final /r/. UK English typically /əˈmuːə/ with a weaker or non-rhotic ending. Australian English aligns closer to US but often reduces the final /r/ in connected speech and features a slightly broader /ɔː/ in some contexts. The core is a stressed /muː/ with a light schwa before, but rhoticity and vowel duration vary.
Because it blends a foreign vowel sequence and a French-influenced ending into English. The primary challenge is achieving a pure /uː/ vowel in the second syllable while handling the potential final /r/ in rhotic accents. The initial schwa plus stress on the second syllable can feel awkward, and matching the subtle French tongue position (mid-back rounded) adds to the difficulty.
The subtle distinction between /muːr/ versus /muːə/ at the end matters: in American usage you’ll hear a clear rhotic ending, while in British usage it often softens to a non-rhotic /əˈmuːə/. Practicing both forms and listening to native speakers will help you choose the appropriate variant for your audience.
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Amour comes from the Old French amour, borrowed from the Latin amor, meaning love or affection. The Latin root am- expresses the concept of love, desire, or liking. In medieval and early modern French, amour described romantic love and emotional attachment, often in courtly literature. As French influence spread through Europe, the term appeared in English-language poetry and prose, typically in contexts that sought to evoke Parisian chic or Romantic sensibilities. The word maintains its French accent in English usage, with the final r kept soft, and the overall pronunciation subtly marked by a nasality that hints at French phonology. First known English attestations surface in literary works of the 17th to 18th centuries, where writers used amour to convey refined passion, sometimes as a stylistic or exotic element rather than as a straightforward translation of love. In modern usage, amour is recognized as a loanword carrying cultural associations with romance, artistry, and European aesthetic. The term persists in fashion, film, and literature, where it often appears in titles or captions to convey a cosmopolitan, romantic aura.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Amour" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Amour" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Amour"
-ure sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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