Lascaux is the site of a famous prehistoric cave in southwestern France, renowned for its Paleolithic cave paintings. The term specifically denotes the cave complex and its artwork, dating to around 17,000 years ago, symbolizing early human artistic expression and symbolic thinking. The name itself is used to refer to the cave and its archaeological significance.
"Researchers traveled to Lascaux to study one of the most important Paleolithic art collections in Europe."
"The discovery of Lascaux shifted our understanding of early human symbolic behavior."
"Tourists marvel at the replicated replicas near Lascaux because the original caves are protected."
"Art historians often compare Lascaux paintings with other Upper Paleolithic artworks to trace stylistic trends."
Lascaux is a toponym derived from the site’s geographic and regional naming rather than a common noun. The cave complex is located in the Dordogne department, near Montignac, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. The name likely has Occitan or Gascon origins, reflecting historical vernacular usage in the landscape rather than a direct descriptive term. The term entered the global lexicon through the 20th century after the cave was discovered (1940) and subsequently studied by archaeologists and art historians. The word itself has no prior meaning in standard French beyond being a place name, so its cultural significance is tied entirely to the site and its UNESCO-recognized Paleolithic paintings. Over time, “Lascaux” has become a reference point for prehistoric art worldwide, much like other ancient caves (e.g., Altamira) that symbolize early human creativity. The etymology thus traces a geographic origin, then a cultural transformation into a symbol of the Upper Paleolithic era’s artistic achievement.
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Words that rhyme with "Lascaux"
-aux sounds
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Pronounce it as las-KOH (US) or las-KO (UK/AU) with a two-syllable structure. The stress falls on the second syllable. IPA: US: læsˈkoʊ, UK/AU: ˈlæskɔː, but commonly you’ll hear /læsˈkoʊ/ in American media and /læsˈkoʊ/ in many English pronunciations. The final 'aux' is not pronounced like 'auxiliary'—think 'ko' rather than 'awks'. You can listen to Quick reference audio on Pronounce or Forvo for native intonation cues.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (LAS-caux) and mispronouncing the ending as 'awks' or 'aux'. Correct approach: second-syllable stress on 'KO' with a closed, shorter 'o' sound in US settings. For non-native speakers, avoid turning -caux into 'caws' or 'cao'—keep it crisp as /koʊ/ or /koː/ depending on variant. Listening to native pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo helps fix the rhythm.
In US English, you’ll commonly hear /læˈkoʊ/ with a rhotic r-like feeling? No, no r here; it’s a simple two-syllable with final /oʊ/. In UK English, some speakers may use /læsˈkɔː/ with a longer open vowel in the final syllable. Australian English tends toward /læsˈkəʊ/ with a closer back rounded vowel and an unstressed second vowel sound. The primary distinction is vowel length and rhoticity absence/presence; the main unit is the second syllable height and backness.
The difficulty comes from the French origin of the word, especially the -aux ending pronounced /ko/ rather than the common English -awks. Also, the two-syllable rhythm and the initial syllable’s lax vowel /æ/ can be unfamiliar. Some speakers mistakenly place stress on the first syllable; the correct pattern places primary stress on the second. Mastery requires listening to native French-influenced English renderings and practicing the 'ko' ending clearly.
Yes—note the French influence in the -aux ending which is typically pronounced as /ko/ or /koʊ/ in English, not as /ɔː/. The word lacks a final consonant sound, so your mouth should finish with a rounded back vowel rather than a trailing consonant. Additionally, the second syllable carries stress and should be clearly enunciated with a rounded lips posture for accuracy.
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