Escapade is a playful or daring adventure or action, typically unusual or illicit in nature, undertaken for amusement or excitement. As a noun, it can describe a light, impulsive venture or a bold, quick excursion that’s often associated with mischief or novelty. The term carries a lively, slightly cheeky nuance, not a serious undertaking.
"Her latest escapade involved sneaking into the rooftop garden at midnight."
"The press labeled the politician’s scandal as an escapade rather than a crime."
"They planned a weekend escapade to a nearby vineyard to unwind."
"That escapade ended up drawing more attention than they expected."
Escapade comes from the French escapade, which means a spirited flight or an escape. The root es- (out) + caper (to leap, seize) points to a sudden, playful departure from routine. The French term appeared in English in the late 19th century, often in lighthearted or humorous contexts. Over time, it broadened from a literal escape or flight to any mischievous or adventurous act, usually nonviolent and meant for amusement. The word carries a sense of whimsy and audacity and is frequently used in social or literary discourse to describe a bold, temporary deviation from convention. The semantic shift also aligns with popular culture’s enjoyment of “escapades” as entertaining anecdotes rather than misdeeds. The first known use in English literature traces to the 1870s, with rapid adoption in narrative prose and journalism, especially in travel writing and gossip columns, where a casual, stylish air enhanced the word’s appeal. Today, escapade implies lighthearted risk and charm rather than genuine danger, preserving its spirited, capital-E energy in contemporary usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Escapade"
-ade sounds
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The word is stressed on the second syllable: es-CA-pade. It’s pronounced /ɪˈskeɪpeɪd/ in US English, with a clear long A in the second syllable and a final /d/. UK English uses /ˌɛsˈkeɪpeɪd/ with similar stress, and Australian English follows the same pattern. Start with a light, quick /ɪ/ to /ɪ/, then glide into /ˈskeɪ/ (like 'skate' without the t), ending with /peɪd/. Audio examples vary slightly by speaker, but the rhythm remains two-syllable emphasis after the initial unstressed prefix. Practice with: “es-CA-pade” and “a daring escapade.”
Common errors: misplacing stress and mispronouncing the final -ade. Try not to say ‘es-kah-PAD’ or ‘es-CA-pad’ with a short a. Correct it by hearing the /keɪ/ followed by /peɪd/ as a single glide into a long -ade, and keep the stress on CA. Another pitfall is pronouncing the initial /ɪ/ as a full ‘ee’ or ‘eh’ sound. Use a quick, light /ɪ/ and then a crisp /ˈskeɪ/. Finally, avoid adding a syllable—say ‘es-CA-pade’ with two crisp, even vowels in the middle.
Across US, UK, and AU, the core sounds are similar: /ɪˈskeɪpeɪd/ (US), /ˌɛsˈkeɪpeɪd/ (UK), and /ˌɛsˈkeɪpɪd/ or /ˌɛsˈkeɪpeɪd/ (AU). The main differences are vowel quality and rhoticity. US tends to be rhotic with a clearer /r/ only if present in surrounding words; the /eɪ/ in the middle and end remains a diphthong. UK tends to a slightly shorter first vowel and a more clipped /d/. Australian often merges or reduces final syllables, sometimes ending with /pəd/ or /peɪd/ depending on speaker and formality. Listen for the stress placement: CA in all is the accented syllable.
The difficulty comes from the two-part structure: a stressed middle syllable with a high-front vowel and a long final -ade. The /ɪ/ in the first syllable and the diphthong /eɪ/ in the second can be tricky for non-natives, especially maintaining a smooth glide between /skeɪ/ and /peɪd/. The final /d/ must be crisp, not devoiced or swallowed. Finally, sustaining the two-stress pattern in longer phrases without running the vowel together requires precise timing.
Why is the middle syllable 'CA' emphasized in all major dialects? Because the root is the French escapade, which imposes a predictable secondary emphasis on the syllable containing the earliest closed syllable with /skeɪ/. The English adaptation assumes stress on the nucleus of the second syllable, giving the word its characteristic cadence. Practically, this makes your mouth settle into a rounded /skeɪ/ before landing on /peɪd/; you’ll hear a brief boost in pitch on the second syllable before the final glide.
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