2 syllables: au, guste. Stress on au.
AW-guhst
/ˈɔɡəst/
auguste is pronounced AW-guhst (/ˈɔɡəst/). It has two syllables (au-guste), with the stress on "au". Auguste is a proper noun often used as a given name or surname of French origin. It can also appear in historical or artistic contexts (e.g., Auguste Rodin). The term carries a refined, European resonance and is typically pronounced with a soft French influence, though usage in Anglophone settings may adopt a more anglicized vowel quality. Overall, it denotes authority, antiquity, or classical associations in name form.
Auguste is a proper noun often used as a given name or surname of French origin. It can also appear in historical or artistic contexts (e.g., Auguste Rodin). The term carries a refined, European resonance and is typically pronounced with a soft French influence, though usage in Anglophone settings may adopt a more anglicized vowel quality. Overall, it denotes authority, antiquity, or classical associations in name form.
"The exhibit credits list Auguste as the sculptor, underscoring his classical influence."
"In some Latin-script contexts, “Auguste” appears as a title or honorific before a painter or scholar."
"The pronunciation shift in English shows how names like Auguste adapt to local phonology."
In many English contexts, /ɔːˈɡuːst/ or /ɔːˈɡuːst/ approximations appear, but a more authentic French-influenced version is /o.ɡyst/ or /o.ɡyst(ə)/ with the final vowel light and often silent. The stress is on the second syllable in English-adopted forms: aʊˈɡuːst or ɔːˈɡuːst; in French, closer to /o.ɡyst/. For a precise French-like pronunciation, start with /o/ as in “or,” then /ɡ/ + /yst/ with a closed front rounded vowel for the “u” and a crisp /st/ end. Listen to native French speakers for the last consonant cluster and avoid an English long “oo” before the final /st/.
Two common errors are treating the second syllable as a pure, English-wide “oo” sound and inserting an extra vowel after the “t,” producing /ˈɔːɡuːstiː/ or /ˈɔɡjuːstee/. Correct by adopting a short, clipped /yst/ ending and not vocalizing the final consonant; ensure the /ɡ/ is a hard stop and that the /ɪ/ in the second syllable isn’t too lax. Aim for a French-inspired /o.ɡyst/ with minimal vowel length in the final /t/.
US: lean toward /ɔːɡuːst/ with a heavier rhotic influence and a longer /ɔː/. UK: closer to /ɒˈɡjuːst/ or /ɒˈɡuːst/ with more rounded vowels and less pronounced rhotics. AU: often /ɔːˈɡɜːst/ with a broader vowel palette and variable /ɡ/ and /ɜː/ quality. In all, the French-like final /yst/ tends to shift toward an English /st/ cluster with a lighter, non-rolled /r/ absent. The main points: stress on the second syllable in many English renderings, vowel shifts in the first syllable, and a crisp /st/ ending.
The difficulty lies in balancing a French-inspired front rounded /u/ in the second syllable with a clean /st/ final, and avoiding an overt English /oo/ or a prolonged /t/. The combination of a silent or lightly pronounced final vowel, the alveolar /t/ vs. the /st/ cluster, and the potential shifts in vowel height across dialects makes it tricky. You must simultaneously manage lip rounding, tongue height, and a crisp stop closure without voicing changes.
A key feature is the French-influenced end cluster /yst/—the /y/ is a close front rounded vowel, not an English /i/ or /ɪ/. In many English renderings, the final consonant cluster /st/ remains, but the preceding vowel should not be lengthened; keep it short and tense. Don’t insert a schwa after the second syllable. In careful speech, you should aim for /o.ɡyst/ (French-like) or an English-adapted variant like /ɔːɡəst/ with a muted final vowel.
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Auguste is the French form of Augustus, derived from the Latin augēstus meaning “venerable” or “majestic,” originally a title given to Roman emperors and high officials. The root aug-, from augere “to increase, to honor,” conveys elevation or sanctity. The first known use in Latin traces to the late Republic and early Empire as Augustus was conferred as a title by Senate for Octavian in 27 BCE. In French, Auguste became a given name and surname, preserving the sense of dignity and august authority. In English usage, Auguste often retains a quasi-Romantic European aura when used as a first name or surname, sometimes associated with artistic or scholarly figures. Phonologically, the final -ste in Anglophone contexts often reflects English adaptation from French -ste, producing light devoicing in many dialects. Over time, the name has circulated in art, science, and literature, maintaining its cultural signaling of prestige, classical heritage, and refined identity.
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Words that rhyme with "auguste"
-dge sounds
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