One syllable: Moue.
moo
/mu/
Moue is pronounced moo (/mu/). It has one syllable (Moue), with the stress on "Moue". Moue is a noun describing a facial expression of pouting or a deliberately exaggerated, often petulant, expression. It conveys dissatisfaction or coyness and is typically made with pursed lips and a slight lowering of the corners of the mouth. The term can also imply a performative or theatrical eyebrow-lift accompanying the mouth position in social communication.
nounMoue is a noun describing a facial expression of pouting or a deliberately exaggerated, often petulant, expression. It conveys dissatisfaction or coyness and is typically made with pursed lips and a slight lowering of the corners of the mouth. The term can also imply a performative or theatrical eyebrow-lift accompanying the mouth position in social communication.
"She flashed a playful moue to indicate she was mildly offended but not serious."
"His moue of dismay suggested he wasn’t thrilled with the news, even though he remained polite."
"The actor’s moue added a layer of sarcasm to the scene without a single word spoken."
You say /muː/ in US, UK, and AU varieties. The word runs as a long, single vowel sound, with lips rounded for a pure /uː/ quality and no final consonant. Stress is on the only syllable. Imagine saying ‘moo’ as a cow, but keep the lips slightly spread at closure for a French-tinged fronting; the final vowel is held steady rather than squashed. Audio reference: consult standard pronunciation resources for the diphthongal sustain.
Common errors include turning /uː/ into a short /u/ as in 'book', which makes it sound like ‘mo’; rounding the lips too much, giving a /ɯ/ or back vowel; or adding a trailing glide that creates /muːw/ or /mjuː/. The correction is to keep a pure fronted, high-back vowel /uː/ with consistent rounded lips and no final consonant; ensure the jaw stays relatively still and the tongue high and retracted without a heavy palate contact.
Across US/UK/AU, the target is a long /uː/. US often has a more nasalized or centralized /uː/ in some dialects; UK/AU typically maintain a more open, rounded /uː/ with less diphthongization. In all, the rhythm is monophthongal /uː/, but American varieties may slightly reduce vowel height, while UK/AU keep a steadier, more pure /uː/. No final consonant in all; ensure your lips stay rounded and the jaw relaxed.
The difficulty comes from maintaining a pure, tense high-back vowel /uː/ without inserting a glide or converting it into a near-back /u/ or /oʊ/ variant. Lip rounding must be precise and consistent, and the speech should avoid any trailing consonant or 'y' glide. It’s also easy to assimilate to /moʊ/ or /mu/ in rapid speech. Focus on a steady, uninterrupted /uː/ with minimal mouth movement beyond lip rounding.
Yes—the essential is the single-syllable, open-lip, rounded high back vowel without coda. The French loanword flavor is felt in the lip rounding and the lack of an additional consonant or stress cluster. It’s helpful to practice with the mouth in a rounded, forward position and imagine holding a small circle of air at the lips. This helps prevent drifting toward /moʊ/ or /muː/ variants.
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US: /muː/ with a more centralized vowel and subtle nasalization; sustain lip rounding with a relaxed jaw. UK/AU: /mjuː/ or /muː/? In many UK dialects, the word remains /muː/ with minimal or no onset /j/; AU tends toward /mjuː/ in some social contexts or with French-influenced enunciation; monitor for rhoticity differences across contexts. Use IPA reference /muː/ and adjust rounding and jaw tension accordingly.
Moue originates from French, where mousser is related to moue, with indirect lineage linked to the verb mouer meaning to move or to make a face. The exact French noun moue appeared in early modern French literature to denote a fixed facial expression, especially one of disapproval or coyness. The term was borrowed into English in the 19th century as a laconic, slightly humorous descriptor for a habitual petty pout in dramatic or social contexts. Its usage has remained relatively niche, often connoting a refined, perhaps theatrical, affectation rather than an everyday gesture. While the French moue carries the sense of a movement or pouting expression, English adoption emphasizes the static facial pose it denotes. The word’s first known appearances in English texts show it used to color a character’s facial communication without explicit verbal content, aligning with subtler forms of social signaling in formal or artistic writing.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Moue" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Moue" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Moue"
-lue sounds
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