3 syllables: At, ta, che. Stress on che.
at-uh-SHAY
/ˌætəˈʃeɪ/
Attache is pronounced at-uh-SHAY (/ˌætəˈʃeɪ/). It has three syllables (At-ta-che), with the stress on "che". Attache (noun) refers to a person, typically a diplomat or official, attached to a larger organization or mission; often used in formal or semi-formal contexts to denote a specialized staff member. The term can also describe a supporting or accompanying role. In modern usage, it appears in phrases like military attache or cultural attache, and is sometimes spelled with the accent aigu as attaché in English-language venues.
nounAttache (noun) refers to a person, typically a diplomat or official, attached to a larger organization or mission; often used in formal or semi-formal contexts to denote a specialized staff member. The term can also describe a supporting or accompanying role. In modern usage, it appears in phrases like military attache or cultural attache, and is sometimes spelled with the accent aigu as attaché in English-language venues.
How to Pronounce Attache
"The cultural attache at the embassy spoke several languages fluently."
"An aviation attache was stationed in Paris to coordinate defense cooperation."
"The military attache presented the report to the defense committee."
Pronounce as a-TAHSH-ay in many English-speaking contexts, but the common anglicized version is at-TASH-ay or a-TASH-ey. IPA guidance: US/UK/AU share /ˌæˈtæʃeɪ/ or /ˌætˈɒteɪ/ depending on familiarity. Stress is on the second syllable: a-TASH-e. Start with a short 'a' as in cat, then a clear 't' plus a 'sh' blend, ending with 'ay' as in day. For precision, listen to native speakers via reputable dictionaries or pronunciation tools and imitate the rhythm.”,
Common errors: (1) Stressing the first syllable as a-TA-che or a-TA-chay, instead of second-syllable emphasis; (2) Pronouncing 'ache' as a hard 'ak' or 'ach' without the 'sh' sound; (3) Omitting the final 'e' vowel or turning it into a schwa; correction: use a clear 'sh' /ʃ/ followed by /eɪ/ and place primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌæˈtæʃeɪ/. Visualize 'ah-TAH-sheh' with a finalized 'ay' sound.”},{
US/UK/AU share the /æ/ vowel in the first syllable, but rhotic differences affect surrounding vowels: US tends to be non-rhotic in some varieties, UK often non-rhotic too; AU tends to raise or diphthongize vowels differently in rapid speech. The second syllable features /ʃeɪ/ in many speakers. In some British varieties you may hear /ˈætəˈʃeɪ/ with a slightly stronger /t/ release before /ʃ/. Overall, practice the /æ/ + /t/ + /ʃ/ + /eɪ/ sequence with stable lips and a clear final /eɪ/.”},{
The challenge lies in the sequence 't' followed by 'sh' (/tʃ/ vs /ʃ/) and the final /eɪ/ sound after /ʃ/. English often quashes the t into an affricate blend before /ʃ/, producing /tʃ/ or a subtle alveolar stop. The diacritical origin adds a French flavor that native English speakers often skip, leading to misplacement of stress and vowel quality. Also, speakers may mispronounce the 'e' ending as a muted vowel instead of a clear /eɪ/. Focus on the /æ/ vowel, the /t/ release, and the /ʃ/ before /eɪ/.”},{
A distinctive feature is the obligatory light secondary stress between the first and second syllable in some formal utterances and the tendency to maintain a crisp /t/ followed by /ʃ/ before the /eɪ/ ending. The second syllable carries the main stress, yielding rhythmic pattern a-TASH-eɪ, which can feel counterintuitive if you expect a consistent stress pattern across English loanwords. Listening to native speech helps reveal the subtle timing between syllables and the gliding into the final /eɪ/.
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Attache comes from the French attaché, from the verb attacher meaning 'to attach' or 'to fasten'. The French term emerged in the 17th–18th centuries, originally describing a person attached to a mission or organization as a helper or specialist. In English, the term was borrowed in the 19th century, preserving the accent aigu diacritic in more formal or traditional contexts, though anglicized spellings without diacritics are common. The core idea evolved from a literal sense of being attached to a group to a formal designation for a staff official or specialist within diplomatic, military, or organizational settings. First known use in English dates to the early 19th century, with widespread adoption in diplomatic circles by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, aligning with expanding multinational missions and permanent embassies.
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Words that rhyme with "Attache"
-che sounds
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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