One syllable: masse.
mas
/mæs/
masse is pronounced mas (/mæs/). It has one syllable (masse), with the stress on "masse". Masse is a French-derived term meaning a heavy, thick mass or lump, or, in some contexts, a unit of rhythm or force in physical or martial arts-related usage. In English-adopted use, it can refer to a packed, dense quantity or to a decorative, sculptural mass. The word’s pronunciation is nuanced, often requiring careful vowels and a silent-e or liaison sound depending on usage. It is best treated as a loanword with French phonetic tendencies.
Masse is a French-derived term meaning a heavy, thick mass or lump, or, in some contexts, a unit of rhythm or force in physical or martial arts-related usage. In English-adopted use, it can refer to a packed, dense quantity or to a decorative, sculptural mass. The word’s pronunciation is nuanced, often requiring careful vowels and a silent-e or liaison sound depending on usage. It is best treated as a loanword with French phonetic tendencies.
"The masse of the stone was unwieldy and difficult to move."
"In martial arts, he delivered a powerful masse with methodical control."
"The artist created a masse of clay, shaping it into a smooth dome."
Phonetically, it’s pronounced as /mæs/ for US/UK/AU English. The initial m is bilabial, the a is a short open front vowel as in 'cat', and the final s is an unvoiced alveolar sibilant. The final 'e' is typically silent in English loanword usage, though a light trailing sound can occur in careful diction. Stress is on the single syllable: MASSE. Audio references: consult Cambridge or Forvo entries for native French loanword realization in English contexts.
Common errors include lengthening the vowel (pronouncing /æː/ as in 'mate') and adding a voiced z/d to the end. Some speakers voice the final 's' as a z, producing /mæz/ instead of /mæ s/; others overly emphasize a French-like ending /ɛs/ rather than a clean /s/. The corrective cues: keep the vowel short and crisp /æ/ as in 'cat', avoid voicing the final s, and end with a crisp /s/. Practice with minimal pairs: masse vs mass.
Across accents, the core /mæs/ remains stable, but you may hear subtle timing or vowel quality shifts. US tends toward a tighter /æ/ and quicker final s; UK may present a slightly rounded or shorter vowel with marginally crisper final s; AU often has a broader, more centralized vowel before the final s and a relaxed final s. In all cases, the word remains one syllable, with no r-colored vowels or diphthongs.
The challenge isn’t the consonants but the vowel and the subtle French loanword cadence. The short /æ/ vowel must be precise without drifting into /e/ or /ɑ/. The final /s/ must be crisp and unvoiced; many learners add voicing. Keeping the French-like brevity while using English voicing and syllable timing requires careful control of tongue position and air pressure. Also, irregular liaison in connected speech can mask the word’s end.
A unique aspect is maintaining a pure, short vowel with a crisp, voiceless final /s/ in rapid speech, avoiding a following voiced consonant from next word that can bleed into the final consonant. For example, 'masse of clay' can become 'mas s- of clay' without natural flow. Focus on final alveolar sibilant. IPA reminder: /mæs/; ensure the tongue is neutral, lips relaxed, jaw minimal raise.
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Masse derives from French masse, meaning a lump, mass, or bundle, from Latin massa, meaning a mass, lump, or dough. The root is related to Latin massa “mass, lump,” possibly connected to Greek maza “barley-meal” through analogy of quantity. The word entered English via Old French masse, with early uses tied to bulk or massing of materials, and later adopted in specialized fields and loanword contexts. The sense extends from physical mass to collective weight or bulk, and in some modern contexts, to rhythmic or martial force. Throughout its history, masse has retained its core sense of a dense, cohesive volume or quantity anchoring its metaphorical uses in arts, crafts, and physical disciplines. The pronunciation in English can reflect French influence, with potential silent letters and liaison effects in borrowed phrases, though in many English contexts it is anglicized but still retains the soft “s” and open vowel tendencies characteristic of French loanwords.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "masse" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "masse" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "masse" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "masse"
-ass sounds
-gas sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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