3 syllables: Ke, ras, tase. Stress on ras.
kur-RAS-tayz
/kɜrˈæs.teɪz/
Kerastase is pronounced kur-RAS-tayz (/kɜrˈæs.teɪz/). It has three syllables (Ke-ras-tase), with the stress on "ras". Kerastase is a luxury professional haircare brand name used as a noun. It denotes a line of high-end shampoos, conditioners, and treatments typically marketed in salons and beauty retailers. The term is borrowed from French branding conventions, and is pronounced with a French-influenced stress pattern, often treated as a proper noun in English usage.
nounKerastase is a luxury professional haircare brand name used as a noun. It denotes a line of high-end shampoos, conditioners, and treatments typically marketed in salons and beauty retailers. The term is borrowed from French branding conventions, and is pronounced with a French-influenced stress pattern, often treated as a proper noun in English usage.
"I asked the stylist for Kerastase products for dry hair."
"The Kerastase line offers a range of serums and masks."
"She recommended Kerastase Bain Satin 2 for hydration."
Pronounce Kerastase as kuh-RAH-staz, with stress on the second syllable. IPA (US/UK/AU hint): US: kəˈræsˌtæz, UK: kəˈrɑːsˌtɑːz, AU: kəˈrasˌtæz. Begin with a schwa /kə/ or /kəˈ/ then an emphasized /ræs/ or /rɑːs/ making the second syllable prominent, ending with /tæz/ or /tɑːz/. Visualize: “keh-RAH-stahz” in French-influenced English. Audio references align with salon marketing pronunciations; aim for smooth transition between syllables without heavy trilling. Practicing in front of a mirror helps position the tongue for the /æ/ vs /ɑː/ distinction and ensures the final z is voiced consistently.
Common errors include flattening the stress to KA-ra-STAZ instead of kuh-RAH-staz, misplacing the second syllable vowel (using /æ/ as in cat or /ɑ/ as in father in awkward places), and pronouncing the final -e as a hard 'ee' instead of a soft z. Corrections: keep the primary stress on the second syllable, use a clear /ɜː/ or /ə/ initial, and end with a voiced /z/ rather than a silent or /s/ sound; keep the /z/ voicey and not devoiced. Listen to brand voiceovers and practice with minimal pairs like “ker-AR-staz” vs “ker-as-taz” to lock in the correct rhythm. Increase accuracy by slowing the final consonant and ensuring lip rounding on the second syllable for an authentic, French-inflected sound.
US tends to use a schwa at the start and a rhot0ic-like /ɹ/ in the second syllable with clear /æ/ or /ɑː/ depending on speaker; UK often favors /kəˈrɑːsˌtɑːz/ with a slightly longer o-like vowel in the second syllable and steeped non-rhoticity influencing the first syllable; AU can combine both with a flatter, more open /æ/ or /aː/ in the second syllable and a final /z/ that remains voiced. The key is the second syllable stress and the final /z/ becoming a voiced sibilant; rhoticity differences do not massively affect Kerastase’s central vowels, but regional vowel length and quality shift the perceived vowel in the second syllable.
The difficulty stems from the French-influenced syllable division and the non-intuitive vowel quality in the second syllable, plus the brand’s final -e often treated as silent in some contexts but not in others. The second syllable carries stress and uses a tense vowel that doesn’t map cleanly to English norms, while the final -se blends with a trailing voicey /z/. Practitioners must hold the /æ/ or /ɑː/ in the second syllable and maintain voicing on the final /z/ to avoid a clipped ending. Visualize mouth positions, practice with audio cues, and mimic brand pronunciations in ads to reinforce correct production.
The primary stress lands on the second syllable withe the pattern ku-RAH-stahz, approximately /kəˈræsˌtæz/ (US) or /kəˈrɑːsˌtɑːz/ (UK/AU). The /k/ initial is light, the /ə/ is a schwa, the second syllable features a clearer /æ/ or /ɑː/ depending on accent, and the final is a voiced /z/. IPA guidance: US kəˈræsˌtæz, UK kəˈrɑːsˌtɑːz, AU kəˈrasˌtæz. Emphasize the second syllable, then glide into a sharp but smooth final consonant; avoid over-elongating the first syllable.
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Kerastase is a brand name created for a French-influenced haircare line. The root impression is branding rather than a standalone French dictionary word, but it echoes French phonotactics: the prefix ker- resembles the French word ker (not independent here) and -astase evokes a high-fashion, luxe-sounding ending similar to other premium brands. The marketing choice leans on the elegant, salon-sophisticated sound. In the broader context of brand naming, Kerastase likely draws on the cadence of French syllables and consonant clusters to suggest professional-grade haircare. First used in the 1980s as a cosmetic line, the brand gained prominence through high-end beauty retailers and professional salons globally, becoming a recognizable luxury identifier in haircare. Over time, the term became a generic brand name within professional circles while retaining its proper-noun status in English-language copy. The name’s persisting prestige is reinforced by global advertising and salon partnerships, keeping it associated with advanced formulas and salon-grade efficacy.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Kerastase" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Kerastase"
-tis sounds
-sis sounds
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