3 syllables: Ca, nne, le. Stress on le.
ka nel-AY
/kæ nɛˈleɪ/
Cannele is pronounced ka nel-AY (/kæ nɛˈleɪ/). It has three syllables (Ca-nne-le), with the stress on "le". As a noun, a French-origin pastry or confection, typically small, shaped like a fluted baton, with a caramelized crust and soft, custard-like interior. In English usage, it refers to the pastry variety and can be used as a noun for the treat itself or the container-shaped mold. The term carries cultural associations with bakery contexts and French patisserie, and is pronounced with a Parisian nasalized vowel and a //l/ ending.
nounA French-origin pastry or confection, typically small, shaped like a fluted baton, with a caramelized crust and soft, custard-like interior. In English usage, it refers to the pastry variety and can be used as a noun for the treat itself or the container-shaped mold. The term carries cultural associations with bakery contexts and French patisserie, and is pronounced with a Parisian nasalized vowel and a //l/ ending.
- Misplacing stress on the first syllable; correct by practicing the second-syllable emphasis: ka-NEL. - Overpronouncing the final -e as a separate vowel; keep it as a light, silent ending or a quick /əl/ depending on speaker. - Vowel shift: confuse /æ/ with /ɑ/ or /ɒ/; lock in /æ/ as in cat and use /ɛ/ in the second syllable. - Lip position: keep lips neutral on /æ/ and avoid rounding that bleeds into /ɛ/.
How to Pronounce Cannele
"I bought a box of cannelés from the bakery, their interiors perfectly custard-like."
"The cannelé molds lined the kitchen counter as the batter rested."
"She savored a warm cannelé with coffee after lunch."
Pronounce as kah-NEL-eh with stress on the second syllable. The initial /k/ is a hard ‘k’ and the vowel is the short a as in cat /æ/. The second syllable /nɛl/ uses a clear mid-front vowel, ending with a light, non-syllabic /e/ sound before silent final e. IPA: /kæˈnɛl/ for US/UK; in careful French-influenced speech, you may hear /kɑ̃ˈnɛ.le/ with nasalization. Audio guidance: listen to authentic cannelés on reputable patisserie channels.
Common errors include overemphasizing the final -lé to make it sound like -le, truncating the second syllable as /nel/ instead of /nɛl/, and misplacing the stress on the first syllable. Correct by stressing the second syllable: /kæˈnɛl/. Keep the /æ/ as in cat, and ensure a light, clipped final /l/. Practice with a mirror to position the tongue: high front for /æ/, mid-front for /ɛ/. Listen to native patisserie videos and imitate the rhythm.
In US English: /kæˈnɛl/ with rhotic, clear /æ/ and /ɛ/. In UK English: similar /kæˈnel/; some speakers may de-emphasize the second vowel slightly and use a crisper /l/. In Australian English: /kæˈnel/ with a slightly broader vowel and a softer /l/. Across all, the key is a strong second syllable stress and a short, open vowel in the second syllable. The French influence remains visible in the precise ending /ɛl/.
The difficulty lies in the French-origin vowel quality and final consonant cluster: the /ɛ/ vowel in the second syllable is short and tense, while the final /l/ is light and often not fully released. The combination /nɛl/ with clear tension on the second syllable requires precise tongue positioning: mid-front /ɛ/ and a relaxed but distinct /l/. Also, the French-like final -e is often silent; many English speakers add an extra vowel or pronounce it as -ay. Practice with minimal pairs and IPA awareness to stabilize.
Yes. The word contains a silent or lightly pronounced final -e in many English renderings; the main pronunciation focuses on the /kæˈnɛl/ or /kɑ̃ˈnɛl/ with a possible nasalization in French-influenced speech. The final stress lands on the second syllable and the ending /l/ should be clean and not dark. In careful speech, you may hear a subtle final /əl/ or /ɛl/ depending on the speaker, but /nɛl/ is the standard English rendering.
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- US: /kæˈnɛl/ with a rhotic r absence here; ensure /æ/ then /nɛ/ with a crisp /l/. - UK: similar pattern, may be closer to /kæˈnel/; slight vowel lengthening possible on /ɛ/. - AU: /kæˈnel/, broader vowel; maintain light final /l/ without strong vowel after it. - Throughout, maintain non-rhoticity; the r sound does not appear in are words. IPA references: /kæˈnɛl/ (US/UK/AU).
Cannele is the singular form of the French pastry cannelé, derived from the French word cannelé meaning 'tubed' or 'fluted' — referring to the fluted copper molds used for baking. The root is from cannelure, a grooved or channelled form, from Latin canna meaning ‘reed’ or ‘pipe.’ The term first appeared in culinary contexts in 19th-century France, closely tied to Bordeaux where the specialty is most famous. In English, cannelé entered usage as bakers and gourmets adopted the French spellings and pronunciations to describe the caramelized crust and custardy center. Over time, the word has retained its French pronunciation cues while often anglicized in casual speech. The traditional technique uses copper molds, frequent basting, and a long bake to achieve the dark caramel crust without burning the interior. In modern patisserie, cannelés are recognized as a signature item in many boulangeries worldwide, though the spelling and pronunciation sometimes vary (e.g., cannelés vs cannelé in English texts) as culinary influence spread globally.
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Words that rhyme with "Cannele"
-lle sounds
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