2 syllables: Che, rie. Stress on Che.
SHER-ee
/ˈʃɛɹi/
Cherie is pronounced SHER-ee (/ˈʃɛɹi/). It has two syllables (Che-rie), with the stress on "Che". Cherie is a feminine given name and term of endearment borrowed from French, meaning “dear” or “darling.” In English usage it appears as a proper noun or affectionate address, often with a light, soft vowel quality. It can function as a standalone name or be embedded in phrases like “my Cherie.”.
nounCherie is a feminine given name and term of endearment borrowed from French, meaning “dear” or “darling.” In English usage it appears as a proper noun or affectionate address, often with a light, soft vowel quality. It can function as a standalone name or be embedded in phrases like “my Cherie.”
- Common Mistake 1: Not preserving the long second syllable /iː/. Solution: Practice with minimal pairs like Cherie vs. Cheri (French é spelling) and hold the /iː/ for a full beat. - Common Mistake 2: Slurring the first syllable; turning /tʃɛ/ into a quick /tʃə/. Solution: Drill the contrast with “chair” and “care” to ensure crisp onset and clear vowel. - Common Mistake 3: Pronouncing as one syllable or with stress on the first syllable. Solution: Use stress-timed cues; emphasize the second syllable and count “Cher-IE” aloud. - Tips: Record your voice; compare to native speaker pronunciation; break into micro-skills: onset, nucleus, coda; rehearse with slow tempo, then rhythm. - Focus on mouth shapes: lip rounding minimal on /iː/; jaw stays relaxed; tongue blade high for /tʃ/; tip behind the upper front teeth for /tʃ/.
"She introduced herself as Cherie and greeted everyone with a warm smile."
"Cherie, could you pass the salt, please?"
"The letter began, “Dear Cherie,” and spoke with tenderness throughout."
Cherie is pronounced as /tʃɛˈriː/ in US English and /tʃeˈriː/ in UK English; the second syllable carries primary stress. Start with the /tʃ/ blend as in “chair,” then the first vowel as a short e /ɛ/ or close-front vowel depending on accent, followed by a stressed /riː/ with a long /iː/ like “see.” Mouth positions: lips lightly rounded for /ɔɹ/ transitions aren’t needed here, tip of the tongue behind the upper teeth for /tʃ/, and the tongue arches toward the hard palate for /ɛ/ or /e/ before /riː/. Audio reference: think of a French-influenced English pronunciation with a clean, bright second syllable. IPA: US /tʃɛˈriː/, UK /tʃeˈriː/.
Common mistakes include flattening the second syllable to a short /i/ as in “city” or misplacing stress as /ˈtʃɛr.i/ with first-syllable emphasis. Another error is pronouncing the second vowel as a lax /ɪ/ or reducing the final /iː/ to a schwa in fast speech. Correction: keep the second syllable clearly stressed and long /iː/, and maintain /tʃ/ at the start with an accurate /ɛ/ or /e/ vowel before /riː/. Practice the sequence: /tʃ/ + /ɛ/ (or /e/) + /ˈriː/.
In US English, /tʃɛˈriː/ with a shorter first vowel may occur; the second syllable holds a long /iː/. UK English tends to preserve a slightly crisper /e/ in the first syllable and a clear /riː/; rhoticity is less pronounced for the name itself. Australian tends toward a broader vowel in the first syllable and a rounded, slightly longer /iː/. Across accents, the key is maintaining the two-syllable structure and the secondary vowel quality while letting vowel length differ per locale. IPA references: US /tʃɛˈriː/, UK /tʃeˈriː/, AU /tʃeˈriː/ or /tʃɜːˈriː/ depending on speaker.
The difficulty comes from preserving the French-influenced second syllable vowel length while keeping the English /tʃ/ onset natural and the overall two-syllable rhythm intact. Some speakers err by shortening the second syllable or changing the stress pattern. Another challenge is ensuring the first vowel quality is not reduced to a neutral schwa; instead, aim for a precise /ɛ/ or /e/ depending on the speaker’s accent. IPA cues help solidify the exact sounds: /tʃɛˈriː/ (US) or /tʃeˈriː/ (UK).
No. In Cherie the final 'e' is not silent in English pronunciation; it contributes to the /iː/ vowel in the second syllable. The word is two syllables, with primary stress on the second: /tʃɛˈriː/ (US) or /tʃeˈriː/ (UK). The 'e' visually hints at the vowel length, guiding the long /iː/ rather than a short schwa. Ensure the final vowel has duration and vitality, not a muted ending. IPA: /tʃɛˈriː/ or /tʃeˈriː/.
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- US: /tʃɛˈriː/ with a bright, shorter first vowel; non-rhotic classic names still carry the r-colored vowel subtly. - UK: /tʃeˈriː/ you may hear crisper first vowel; vowel length remains long in the second syllable; rhoticity is minimal in proper name usage. - AU: /tʃeˈriː/ or /tʃɜːˈriː/; vowel ɜː is common in some speakers; the second syllable remains long and stressed. - Shared tips: keep the /tʃ/ onset strong but not overly aspirated; keep second syllable /riː/ with full lip rounding or neutral lips depending on the vowel quality chosen. IPA anchors: US /tʃɛˈriː/, UK /tʃeˈriː/, AU /tʃiˈriː/ (variation). - Practical guidance: practice in minimal pairs to fix vowel quality: “bet” vs “bait” and apply to /tʃɛˈriː/ vs /tʃeˈriː/; slow-to-fast progression helps maintain the two-syllable rhythm.
Cherie originates from the French term chéri, diminutive of cher, meaning “dear” or “expensive/valued.” The feminine form is chérie, literally “dear one.” In English adoption, the word traveled through interlingual borrowings and kept its affectionate nuance, often used as a term of endearment or as a given name. The earliest attestations in English writing reflect French influence on naming conventions and intimate address in the late 19th to early 20th centuries, with “Cherie” appearing in novels and letters as a borrowed stylistic choice. The pronunciation in English conservatively preserves the French liaison and vowel qualities, while the stress pattern tends to follow English name conventions. Over time, the word has broadened from exclusive affection to a recognizable proper name in many English-speaking communities, retaining its soft, genteel connotation. In contemporary usage, it functions both as a name and as a familiar address, with cultural associations tied to romance and Parisian chic, while still bridging into casual, everyday conversation in diverse communities.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cherie" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Cherie" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Cherie"
-iry sounds
-rry sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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