3 syllables: Crud, ité, s. Stress on Crud.
KROO-dit-ay
/ˈkɹuːdɪteɪ/
Crudités is pronounced KROO-dit-ay (/ˈkɹuːdɪteɪ/). It has three syllables (Crud-ité-s), with the stress on "Crud". Crudités refers to an assortment of raw vegetables served with a dip, typically as an hors d'oeuvre. The term (plural, French) emphasizes bite-sized raw vegetables and is commonly found on antipasto or appetizer platters in European and North American hospitality. It conveys a casual, savory healthy snacking context.
nounCrudités refers to an assortment of raw vegetables served with a dip, typically as an hors d'oeuvre. The term (plural, French) emphasizes bite-sized raw vegetables and is commonly found on antipasto or appetizer platters in European and North American hospitality. It conveys a casual, savory healthy snacking context.
"We laid out a colorful crudités platter with celery, carrots, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes."
"For the party, she prepared a tray of crudités with hummus and a light herbed dip."
"The menu featured crudités as a fresh alternative to fried appetizers."
Pronounce as kruːˈdiːteɪ (US) or ˈkruːdɪteɪ in careful articulation. The stress is on the second syllable, with the final -tés producing -teɪ, and the accent on the last syllable of the French loan. Tip: start with a long 'oo' in kru-, then move quickly to 'dee' and end with a crisp 'teɪ'. Audio reference: you can compare with native speakers on Pronounce, YouGlish, or Forvo entries for 'crudités'.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable (kru- vs kruː-). (2) Slurring the -di- to a dull 'dee' without correct vowel length; aim for a distinct 'dee' then crisp 'tez' or 'teɪ' ending. (3) Treating the final -tés like 's' rather than 'teɪ' if spoken quickly. Correction: emphasize second syllable with a clear 'iː' or 'i' before the final 'teɪ' and maintain a short /t/ before the vowel /eɪ/.
US English tends to use kruˈdiːteɪ with a slightly longer final vowel and a pronounced 'd' in the second syllable. UK English often renders it ˈkruːdɪteɪ with a shorter second vowel and crisper 't' before the 'eɪ'. Australian typically aligns with US/UK variation but can flatten the vowel to /ɪ/ in the second syllable—kruːˈdɪteɪ. Across all, the final -tés should be crisp rather than muted; rhoticity mild in UK/AU but present in US. IPA notes: US /ˈkɹuː.diːˌteɪ/, UK /ˈkɹuː.dɪˌteɪ/, AU /ˈkɹuː.dɪˌteɪ/.
The difficulty stems from the French origin and the final -és producing an /eɪ/ glide in English, plus the diacritic accent signaling stress and vowel quality. The mid-to-high front vowel in the second syllable (di) can be mispronounced as /ɪ/ or /iː/; the final /teɪ/ demands a crisp /t/ and a clear /eɪ/. The plural -és in English often triggers confusion about whether to pronounce z-like /z/ or /s/; choose the English /ɪˌteɪ/ ending for a natural, widely understood pronunciation.
In English contexts, the final -és is typically pronounced as /teɪ/ with a long A sound, equivalent to 'teɪ' as in 'parade'. The accent indicates a French plural, but most English speakers adopt /teɪ/ rather than /z/ or /s/. So Crudités becomes kruːˈdiːteɪ (US) or kruˈdiˌteɪ (UK/AU) depending on stress pattern. The sibilant is not pronounced as a separate /z/ sound; it is part of the /teɪ/ syllable.
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Crudités comes from French crudité, feminine singular adjective crudité meaning ‘rawness, freshness,’ derived from cru ‘raw, uncooked’ + suffix -ité forming abstract nouns. In French cuisine, crudité denotes raw vegetable snacks prepared and presented cleanly, often with a dip. The term entered English usage in the early 20th century as French culinary vocabulary became fashionable in high-end restaurants and home entertaining. The plural form crudités follows English pluralization conventions while retaining the final -s in writing, though the pronunciation often devoices the final s in casual speech. Historically, French culinary terms proliferated in anglophone menus during the haute cuisine wave of the late 19th to early 20th centuries, later becoming standard on antipasto platters in American grocery-store deli displays and catering spreads. The concept aligns with modern sensibilities around light, vegetable-forward hors d'oeuvres, expanding from classic French bistro culture into international dining. The word’s pronunciation in English often preserves a zed or s in plural depending on speaker influence; the acute accent in the original French guides stress to the final syllable in French, while English speakers commonly stress the second syllable depending on regional patterns. First known English attestations appear in mid-20th-century culinary writing and menu lexicons as globalization popularized French terms in everyday dining.
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Words that rhyme with "Crudités"
-des sounds
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