2 syllables: Moi, re. Stress on Moi.
MOY-ray
/ˈmɔɪ.reɪ/
Moire is pronounced MOY-ray (/ˈmɔɪ.reɪ/). It has two syllables (Moi-re), with the stress on "Moi". Moire (MOY-ray) is a noun referring to a pattern that resembles wavy or rippled, interlaced lines or curves, often produced in textiles or printed visual designs. It can describe any fabric or surface with such undulating, dreamlike ripple patterns, or the visual effect itself. The term is used in arts, textiles, and optics to denote this distinctive, shimmering pattern.
nounMoire (MOY-ray) is a noun referring to a pattern that resembles wavy or rippled, interlaced lines or curves, often produced in textiles or printed visual designs. It can describe any fabric or surface with such undulating, dreamlike ripple patterns, or the visual effect itself. The term is used in arts, textiles, and optics to denote this distinctive, shimmering pattern.
How to Pronounce Moire
"The scarf featured a delicate moire pattern that shimmered as the light moved."
"It’s important to check the fabric’s moire finish to avoid misinterpretation of the grain in photography."
"The designer used a moire-inspired motif to create depth without adding texture."
Moire is pronounced MOY-ray, with two syllables and the primary stress on the first. IPA: US/UK/AU /mɔˈreɪ/. Start with an open-mid back rounded vowel as in ‘thought’ and glide toward the long ‘a’ as in ‘day.’ Ensure the second syllable lands as a shaded /reɪ/ with a clean, light ‘r’ before vowel, not a rolled or heavy r. Practicing by saying ‘morn-ray’ can help approximate the vowel length and clarity. For audio reference, listen to reputable pronunciation sources and note the two-syllable rhythm.”,
Common errors include overemphasizing the second syllable as ‘MOIR-ray’ with undue length, or flattening the first vowel to a flat /ɔ/ without rounding the lips. Another frequent mistake is mispronouncing the final /reɪ/ as /riː/ or /rei/ lacking the /r/ before the vowel. To correct: keep the first vowel open and rounded, then smoothly glide into /reɪ/ with a soft, even /r/ and a crisp end. Practicing with minimal pairs like /mɔː/ vs /mɔˈreɪ/ helps solidify the two-syllable cadence.”,
In US, UK, and AU, Moire shares /mɔˈreɪ/ with the same two-syllable structure; the primary variance is rhoticity and vowel coloring. The US tends to be rhotacized, sometimes giving a slightly stronger /ɹ/ and a more tense /ɔ/ in the first syllable. UK and AU typically have non-rhotic accents with a softer /ɹ/ and crisper /ɔ/ without heavy rhotic influence. Overall, the core two-syllable rhythm remains, but vowel quality and intonation can color perception across dialects.”,
Moire challenges learners with the combination of a rounded, back vowel in the first syllable and a fronted, elongated /eɪ/ in the second, plus a delicate linking consonant between syllables. The /ɔ/ diphthong in many dialects sits close to /ɒ/ or /ɔ/, which can trip up learners who expect a pure long /oʊ/. The subtle r-coloring in /reɪ/ is easy to overlook, causing misplacement of tongue and lip rounding. Focus on a clean, two-beat rhythm and even lip rounding through both syllables.
Is the final /reɪ/ in Moire silent or fully pronounced? It is fully pronounced as /reɪ/ in standard pronunciation. The first syllable carries primary stress: /mɔˈreɪ/. There is no silent letter in typical English usage for Moire; the terminal vowel is enunciated, though in fast speech it may sound slightly shortened. Ensure the /r/ before /eɪ/ is present and not dropped.”,
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Moire comes from French moire, meaning ‘watered, watered silk,’ referring to the wavy or watered appearance of certain fabrics. The word itself traces to the Old French moire, from Latin membrana ‘membrane’ through a sense of layered, flowing textures. The term entered English through fashion and textile trades in the 18th–19th centuries, as damask or watered-silk fabrics gained popularity for their shimmering, wavy patterns. The concept later broadened beyond textiles to describe any surface or image with a similar interference pattern or undulating lines, including optical moire patterns observed in photography and printing. The pronunciation Moire is often influenced by its French origin, retaining the final 'e' as a silent marker in some contexts, while anglicized usage tends to favor a two-syllable pronunciation with a secondary stress on the first syllable, evolving alongside fashion terminology and visual arts discourse. First known English attestations align with textile contexts from the late 1700s to early 1800s, and the term became closely associated with damask-like fabrics and later general pattern descriptions in design literature.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Moire" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Moire"
-ire sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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