3 syllables: Ma, cra, me. Stress on Ma.
MAK-ruh-may
/ˈmækɹəˌmeɪ/
Macrame is pronounced MAK-ruh-may (/ˈmækɹəˌmeɪ/). It has three syllables (Ma-cra-me), with the stress on "Ma". Macrame is a craft that uses knots to create decorative textiles, cords, and hangings. It involves intricate knot patterns and techniques, often using cord, rope, or yarn on a loom or frame. The term is widely used in arts and crafts contexts and can describe both the technique and finished pieces.
nounMacrame is a craft that uses knots to create decorative textiles, cords, and hangings. It involves intricate knot patterns and techniques, often using cord, rope, or yarn on a loom or frame. The term is widely used in arts and crafts contexts and can describe both the technique and finished pieces.
- Pronouncing with extra syllables: avoid saying mac-ra-me (three syllables). Keep it to two: ma-kra-me. - Stress misplacement: place primary stress on the second syllable: ma-kra-MAY or mak-RAY-me depending on dialect; avoid stressing the first syllable. - Final vowel confusion: don’t turn the final -me into a muted /m/ or /muh/; end clearly with /meɪ/. - Vowel length: do not elongate the first syllable; keep the /æ/ or /ə/ short to balance the rhythm. - Common fast-speech trap: in rapid speech, people may blur /ˈmeɪ/; practice slow, then speed up while keeping the final diphthong intact.
How to Pronounce Macrame
"She learned macrame last year and now sells her wall hangings online."
"The workshop featured macrame plant hangers with geometric knots."
"She organized a macrame display at the craft fair, showcasing several tassel designs."
Macrame is pronounced ma-KRAH-may with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /ˌmæ.kəˈrɑː.meɪ/ or /ˌmæk.rəˈmeɪ/; UK/AU typically /ˌmak.rəˈmeɪ/. Begin with /m/ + a short vowel sound, then a strong /k/ or /kə/ onset in the second syllable, followed by /ræ/ or /rə/ and ending in /meɪ/. Mouth position: start with a relaxed jaw, raise the back of the tongue for /k/, then open to an open-mid /eɪ/ at the end.
Common errors include pronouncing it as ma-CRAY-mee or MAC-rah-mee. To correct: ensure the first vowel is a neutral /æ/ (not /eɪ/), place primary stress on the second syllable with /ˌmæ.kəˈræ.meɪ/ or /ˌmak.rəˈmeɪ/, and pronounce the final /eɪ/ clearly as /eɪ/. Avoid conflating the final -me with an extra syllable; keep it as a single, terminal /meɪ/ sound.
US tends to use /ˌmæ.kəˈræ.meɪ/ with a rhotacized /æ/ in some speakers and a slightly reduced first syllable. UK/AU commonly render it /ˌmak.rəˈmeɪ/ with a clearer /eɪ/ at the end and less emphasis on the /ə/ in the second syllable. The main variation is the second syllable vowel reduction and whether the first vowel is /æ/ or /ə/. All share the final /ˈmeɪ/.
The difficulty lies in the stress pattern and the final diphthong /eɪ/. Many speakers default to a three-syllable cadence or misplace stress on the first syllable. The central schwa /ə/ in the second syllable can be pronounced inconsistently, affecting rhythm. Pay attention to a clear second-syllable stress and a precise final /eɪ/ to avoid a slurred or mis-timed ending.
Is the first syllable pronounced with a hard /k/ or a softer /k/ after /m/? The expected sequence is /m/ then /k/ in the second syllable, with a hard /k/ followed by the vowel /ə/ or /æ/ and ending with /meɪ/. Ensure you don’t reduce the second syllable too much; keep it as an accented nucleus before the final /meɪ/.
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- US: rhotic /r/ is often pronounced distinctly; keep /mæ.kəˈræ.meɪ/ with a clear /ˈræ/ and /meɪ/. - UK: /ˌmak.rəˈmeɪ/ with a shorter /ə/ in the second syllable; ensure non-rhoticity does not affect final /eɪ/. - AU: similar to UK, with a slightly heightened rhythm; maintain /ˌmak.rəˈmeɪ/ and a crisp final /eɪ/. - Vowel cues: second syllable uses a stressed /ə/ or /æ/ depending on dialect; practice a neutral /ə/ in US, and a slightly more open /æ/ in UK/AU. - Lip rounding: final /eɪ/ requires minimal lip rounding; relax the lips for an open-mid front vowel.
Macrame derives from the Persian word ‘mākeramā’ or ‘makrama’, meaning ‘ornament’ or ‘ornamental fringe’. The craft likely originated among Arab weavers of the Afsan region and spread along trade routes to Europe and the Americas. In its early form (13th–15th centuries), macrame referred to decorative knotting used on household items and religious textiles. The term entered European languages through French and later English, where it came to denote the specific knotting technique using square knots, lark’s head knots, and diagonal clove hitch patterns. The modern usage expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries, with residents of coastal regions popularizing macrame for home decor. The first known English-language reference appears in the 19th century couture and craft literature, and its popularity surged again in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a bohemian craft, continuing to evolve with contemporary textile art. Today, macrame encompasses a broad range of knotting styles, from minimalist wall hangings to complex sculptural pieces, often incorporating beads and mixed media.
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Words that rhyme with "Macrame"
-lay sounds
-ray sounds
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