2 syllables: Cor, tege. Stress on tege.
kawr-TEZH
/kɔˈɹtɛʒ/
Cortege is pronounced kawr-TEZH (/kɔˈɹtɛʒ/). It has two syllables (Cor-tege), with the stress on "tege". Cortege is a formal procession, especially a ceremonial one accompanying a funeral or memorial event. In everyday use it also denotes a dignified group of attendees or attendants. The term evokes ritual gravity and precision, typically relating to organized, somber marches rather than casual parades.
nounCortege is a formal procession, especially a ceremonial one accompanying a funeral or memorial event. In everyday use it also denotes a dignified group of attendees or attendants. The term evokes ritual gravity and precision, typically relating to organized, somber marches rather than casual parades.
- You: You might struggle with the /ɔ/ vowel in many accents, tending to sound like ‘kor-tee-zh’. Tip: lock the mouth in a rounded, mid-back position for /ɔ/ and then move to the /eɪ/ diphthong. - The: The /t/ can become a quick, flat alveolar tap in fast speech; practice with a strong release: /t/ as in ‘top’ followed by the /eɪ/. - End: The final /dʒ/ should be a distinct, voiced palato-alveolar affricate; some speakers neutralize to /ʒ/ or /ɡ/. Practice: say kor-TEJ with an audible /t/ and a sharp /dʒ/.
How to Pronounce Cortege
"The cortege moved slowly through the dimly lit streets after the ceremony."
"A small cortege gathered at the church before proceeding to the cemetery."
"The royal cortege arrived with guards in ceremonial dress."
Pronounce it as kor-TEJ with the stress on the second syllable. IPA: US kɔrˈteɪdʒ, UK kɔːˈteɪdʒ, AU ˈkɔː.tɪdʒ. Start with an open back rounded /ɔ/ like ‘core’, then a strong /t/ and a voiced final /dʒ/ as in ‘judge’. The second syllable carries the peak of stress; keep the second syllable slightly longer.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable, producing COR-tege. 2) Slurring the /t/ into the following vowel, leading to كور-teɪdʒ. 3) Pronouncing it as ‘cor-tee-zh’ or ending with an English ‘-dʒ’ without proper vowel rounding. Correction: emphasize the /t/ cleanly, produce the /eɪ/ diphthong in the second syllable, and end with /dʒ/ as in ‘judge’ while keeping lips rounded for /ɔ/.”},{
US: rhotic /ɹ/ onset on ‘cor’, with /ɔr/ and a clear /eɪ/ before /dʒ/. UK: lengthened /ɔː/ in first syllable, non-rhotic, /dʒ/ at end pronounced softly. AU: often broader /ɔː/ in first syllable, with a clipped second syllable; some speakers may reduce /eɪ/ toward /ɪ/ or /eə/ depending on region. For all, the final /dʒ/ is voiced; ensure the /t/ is not swallowed in rapid speech.
The challenge lies in the intermediate /t/ timing before the /eɪ/ diphthong and the final /dʒ/ cluster, which can blur in rapid speech. It’s easy to misplace stress and to mispronounce the second syllable as a simple ‘tee’ or ‘tej’. Practice the exact sequence: /k/ + /ɔ/ + /r/ + /t/ + /eɪ/ + /dʒ/ with crisp articulation on /t/ and a true /eɪ/ diphthong before the /dʒ/.
The unique feature is the long second syllable with a clear /eɪ/ before a voiced /dʒ/. Learners must master the abrupt /t/ release followed by the mid-to-high fronted vowel in the diphthong and avoid turning the final sound into a soft /dʒ-ən/ or sliding into an /i/ sound. Focus on keeping the /t/ released distinctly from /eɪ/ and finishing with a crisp /dʒ/.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ is present; in rapid speech, maintain a clear /ɔ/ or /ɔr/ coloring before /t/; keep US intonation steady with a slight rise on the second syllable in declaratives. - UK: non-rhotic; /ɔː/ lengthens, and /t/ is crisp; ensure /eɪ/ remains a clear diphthong before /dʒ/. - AU: broader /ɔː/ and sometimes flattened /eɪ/; ensure mouth shapes are relaxed yet precise for the diphthong; keep /dʒ/ audible but not overemphasized. IPA references: US kɔrˈteɪdʒ, UK kɔːˈteɪdʒ, AU ˈkɔː.tɪdʒ.
Cortege comes from French cortège, itself from Old French cort, cort, meaning 'court' or 'courtyard' and ultimately linked to the Latin cortis, meaning 'court, enclosure.' The modern English sense—an organized group of people moving in a line—emerged in the 17th–18th centuries as formal language around funerary and ceremonial processions solidified. The word acquired its nuanced distinction from general 'procession' through French usage in aristocratic and religious contexts, where a cortege implied a precise, rank-based lineup and accompanying guards or attendants. Early English usage mirrors high-society ceremonial contexts, often in legal or church records. Over time, the term broadened to cover not only funeral processions but any dignified, methodical group movement, though it remains most common in British English and in formal registers in other varieties. First known uses appear in translations of French ceremonial texts and in 17th-century English ceremonial literature, where Latin-influenced, formal vocabulary was popular in describing state or religious rites.
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Words that rhyme with "Cortege"
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