2 syllables: E, pee. Stress on E.
AY-pay
/ˈeɪpeɪ/
Epee is pronounced AY-pay (/ˈeɪpeɪ/). It has two syllables (E-pee), with the stress on "E". Epee is a fencing sword used in épée events, featuring a flexible blade and a blunted tip for point scoring. In English, the term designates both the weapon and the fencing discipline that uses it, typically adopting a formal, sport-oriented register. The word is borrowed from French, and its pronunciation often bears an air of precision suitable for expert or athletic contexts.
nounEpee is a fencing sword used in épée events, featuring a flexible blade and a blunted tip for point scoring. In English, the term designates both the weapon and the fencing discipline that uses it, typically adopting a formal, sport-oriented register. The word is borrowed from French, and its pronunciation often bears an air of precision suitable for expert or athletic contexts.
How to Pronounce Epee
"She won the gold medal in the épée competition after a sharp, disciplined bout."
"The épée's blade is heavier than that of a foil or sabre, affecting balance and reach."
"At the club, we practice épée footwork and blade work with a focus on distance control."
Pronounce as eh-PEH (two-syllable, stress on the second syllable) with a long a-like vowel in the first part and a closed, pure “e” in the second: IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈeɪ peɪ/ or more accurately /ˌeɪˈpeɪ/ depending on regional adaptation. Think: 'ay-PEH' with the final vowel clearly elongated, almost like 'pay-pay' without the y sound. Audio reference: you can listen to pronunciation on Forvo or YouGlish using a fencing context. Mouth position: start with a mid-open front vowel, then close to a pure mid-front vowel; the second syllable carries the stress and a longer, tense vowel.
Two frequent errors: 1) Flattening the second syllable to a quick 'pay' or 'pee' with minimal stress; 2) Slurring the first vowel into a schwa or misplacing the stress on the first syllable. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable with a clear, elongated 'ay' vowel (as in 'pay') and ensure the first syllable has a crisp, stressed diphthong like 'eh' or 'ay' without reducing to a neutral vowel. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘e-PAY’ vs ‘EE-pay,’ and record to hear whether the second syllable carries the stronger vowel.
Across accents, initial vowel tends to lean toward a long 'ay' or 'eh' sound: US and UK typically render it with a clear 'ay' in the first syllable and a stressed second syllable, giving /ˌeɪˈpeɪ/. Australian English often mirrors this but can feature a slightly more centralized first vowel and tighter final vowel. The key is the second syllable stress and the second vowel quality; avoid turning it into 'ee-PEE' or 'eh-PEE' without the long second vowel.
The difficulty rests on French spelling cues in an English phonetic system: the acute accent signals a precise, closed vowel that’s not always intuitive to English speakers; the two-syllable, trochaic pattern with the second syllable stressed is unusual for many words. Achieve accuracy by focusing on the second syllable vowel length and avoiding the tendency to flatten both vowels or to put stress on the first syllable.
Is the final 'e' pronounced? No. The final 'e' in épée is not pronounced as a separate syllable; the word is two syllables with the second vowel pronounced but the final silent letter in effect. The accent on the first syllable marks a clearer, longer vowel in the second syllable; the 'é' signals a closed vowel in the second syllable. In practice, you say eh-PEH or ay-PEH, not a long-e final sound.
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The word épée comes from the French épée, meaning 'sword' or 'blade,' a diminutive of épée, with the acute accent indicating the historical pronunciation that preserves a closed, final vowel sound. Its root, from Latin spatha via Old French espee, connotes a long, straight blade used for thrusting. In the game of fencing, épée designates the sport's weapon that delivers points exclusively by touch to the torso area. The English adoption retains the French spelling and the acute é, guiding pronunciation toward a longer, precise vowel. Since adoption in the 19th century, the term has remained a specialized label across English literature and sport journalism, distinguishing it from foil and sabre while preserving the elegant, French-origin cadence that many fencing communities celebrate in commentary and instruction.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Epee" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Epee"
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