3 syllables: E, pois, ses. Stress on ses.
ep-was
/e pwa ˈs/
Epoisses is pronounced ep-was (/e pwa ˈs/). It has three syllables (E-pois-ses), with the stress on "ses". Epoisses is a soft, washed-rint cheese from Burgundy, France, renowned for its strong aroma and creamy, orange-hued paste. Traditionally aged in clay or wood, it develops a pungent rind and rich, tangy flavor. This noun refers to both the cheese itself and occasionally the region’s culinary context.
nounEpoisses is a soft, washed-rint cheese from Burgundy, France, renowned for its strong aroma and creamy, orange-hued paste. Traditionally aged in clay or wood, it develops a pungent rind and rich, tangy flavor. This noun refers to both the cheese itself and occasionally the region’s culinary context.
"I sampled a slice of Epoisses with a crusty baguette at the fromagerie."
"The waiter recommended a pairing of Epoisses with a light white wine."
"Her cheese board featured a bold Epoisses, balancing the milder varieties."
Pronounce as eh-pwahss with emphasis on the second syllable: /e.pwɑs/ in French-influenced English. The final 'es' sounds like '-ess' in English borrowing, but in French it’s closer to a light 's' than a full 'ss' sound. IPA guidance: US/UK roughly /ˌeɪ.pwɑˈs/, but a more accurate French-influenced rendering is /e.pwaˈs/. Start with 'eh' as in 'bet', then 'pwah' quickly, finishing with a soft 's'.
Common errors: treating the 'é' as a pure 'ay' as in 'day' rather than an open 'eh'; anglicizing 'poisse' to 'poiss' with a hard 'ss' or misplacing the emphasis on the first syllable. Correct by using /e/ for the first vowel, blend /pw/ without breaking the cluster, and stress the final syllable: e-POSS. Listen for the subtle voiceless s at the end.
In US English, you’ll often hear /ˌiːˈpwɑːs/ or /ˌeɪˈpwɑːs/, with less French nasal qualities. UK speakers may imitate Époisses more closely, using /eɪˈpwɒs/ or /eɪ.pwɑːs/. Australian pronunciation tends to be nearer /eɪˈpwɔːs/ with a longer vowel in the first syllable and a clear final s. The key differences are vowel height and rhoticity; the French 'é' and the palatal /pw/ cluster remain distinctive.
It combines a front vowel with an unusual /pw/ blend and a silent or softly pronounced final s depending on language influence. The 'é' prompts an open-mid vowel that is not common in English; the /pw/ sequence requires precise lip rounding and a quick transition to the /ɑ/ vowel. The final 'es' can sound like /ɛs/ or /s/ depending on accent. Mastering the bite-sized syllables helps.
In English usage, the final 'es' is typically pronounced as a soft /s/ or /z/ depending on adjacent sounds, but in French it’s often elided or very lightly pronounced. In practice, you’ll voice the final /s/ softly to avoid a harsh stop, aiming for /-s/ at the end rather than a plosive. Use a light air release, not a full 'zzz' sound.
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Epoisses derives from the town of Époisses in the Côte-d’Or département of Burgundy, France. The cheese is part of the family of fromages à pâte molle et à croûte lavée (soft-rinded, washed rind). The practice of washing the rind with brine or marc during aging developed to encourage the growth of specific bacteria (Brevibacterium linens) that produce its characteristic ammonia-like aroma and orange rind. The cheese became associated with the late medieval Burgundy wine culture, evolving from monastic and local farmstead cheesemaking traditions that emphasized strong flavors and shelf life in damp summers. The first documented references to Époisses as a notable regional cheese appear in Burgundy trade records from the 18th century, but it likely circulated in rural markets earlier. By the 19th and 20th centuries, Époisses gained wider recognition in French culinary literature and exported prestige to urban centers, where its pungent rind became a marker of authenticity. In modern gastronomy, Époisses remains a symbol of terroir-driven cheesemaking, with strict AOC protections reinforcing its production in designated communes around Époisses and nearby villages.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Epoisses" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Epoisses"
-ess sounds
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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