Comme Des Garçons is a French fashion label; the phrase combines a surname with a designer’s name, commonly treated as a brand name rather than a phrase with direct semantic meaning. In English contexts it is pronounced as a proper noun, typically with a French-influenced stress pattern and vowel qualities, and is often shortened in casual speech to “Comme des Garçons.”
"I’m wearing a Comme Des Garçons jacket to the show."
"The brand Comme Des Garçons has influenced minimalist fashion worldwide."
"She cited Comme Des Garçons as a major inspiration for her latest collection."
"We discussed how Comme Des Garçons uses experimental silhouettes."
Comme Des Garçons originates from French, literally meaning “like of the boys/men” or “like the boys.” In brand form, the phrase is two main elements: Comme Des Garçons (Comme = “like,” Des = “of the,” Garçons = “boys/men”). The designer’s name, Rei Kawakubo, founded the label in 1969 in Tokyo, but the brand’s French name signals avant-garde European influence and high fashion positioning. The original usage is as a signature for the brand’s collections; over time, it has become an internationally recognized label, with the diacritic-less romanization “Comme des Garçons” becoming common in English media. First-known usage as a brand name appears in fashion industry literature from the 1970s and 1980s, with broader consumer recognition by the 1990s as streetwear and high fashion intersected. The brand maintains its French branding even in non-French-speaking markets. The name’s pronunciation was adopted to resemble French phonotactics rather than English equivalents, contributing to ongoing pronunciation discussions worldwide.
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Words that rhyme with "Comme Des Garcons"
-ons sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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In US/UK practice, say as three words: /kɔːm de ɡaʁ.kɔ̃/ (French influence) or commonly /kɒm deɡɑːrˈkɒ̃/ in rapid English speech. Stress typically falls on the final syllable of Garçons in French: gar-ÇONS; English readers may prosodically stress GAR-cons. For an audio reference, mimic native French pronunciation from reputable sources or Pronounce videos; listen for the final nasal /ɔ̃/ and the French /ʁ/ approximated by a uvular fricative or glottal in English contexts.
Common errors: (1) fully anglicizing the final nasal /ɔ̃/ as /ɔː/; keep the nasal nasalization of Garçons. (2) Misplacing stress on “Comme” rather than the brand’s natural French rhythm with a heavier Garçons end-stress. (3) Replacing the French /ʁ/ with a simple /r/ or /g/ substitute; aim for a soft uvular fricative or glottal approach. Correct with listening practice and minimal-pair drills that emphasize nasal vowels and French /ɡ/ sequences.
US and UK readers typically render as /kɒm dɛɡɑːrˈkɒ̃/ or /kɔːm də ɡɑːɡɔ̃/ with varying nasal marks; Australian can lean toward tighter vowels and clearer /ɡ/ sequences, sometimes reducing the final nasal to a closer approximation like /kɒː/. The main differences: rhotics and nasal vowels; US rhotic influence may insert a stronger /r/ in Garçons, while UK and AU approaches may de-emphasize the /r/ and maintain nasalization. In all, approximate French nasal vowels and the uvular /ʁ/ become the key features to hear and emulate.
The difficulty lies in the French nasal vowels (Garçons), the uvular /ʁ/ often softened in English contexts, and the final nasal nasalization which doesn’t exist in English word endings. The component Garçons also includes a consonant cluster (G + a) and a nasal vowel that many English learners struggle to replicate. Practicing with native audio, focusing on mouth positioning for nasal vowels and a soft, French-inspired /ʁ/, helps.
There are no silent letters in the standard French rendering of Comme Des Garçons, but the final nasal /ɔ̃/ can be perceived as a prolonged, nasalized vowel; the stress tends to be musical rather than fixed to one syllable in English adaptation, often leaning toward Garçons in fast speech. Emulate the natural French rhythm by listening to authentic brand announcements and repeating with a light nasal closure at the velum.
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