2 syllables: Om, elette. Stress on Om.
OH-muh-lit
/ˈoʊ məl ɪt/
Omelette is pronounced OH-muh-lit (/ˈoʊ məl ɪt/). It has two syllables (Om-elette), with the stress on "Om". Omelette is a noun referring to a dish of beaten eggs cooked gently and often folded around fillings. It’s typically flat or curved in shape and can be served plain or with ingredients. The word is used in cooking contexts and everyday conversation about meals, recipes, or breakfast. The term carries French origins and is widely used in both British and American English.
nounOmelette is a noun referring to a dish of beaten eggs cooked gently and often folded around fillings. It’s typically flat or curved in shape and can be served plain or with ingredients. The word is used in cooking contexts and everyday conversation about meals, recipes, or breakfast. The term carries French origins and is widely used in both British and American English.
"I made a cheese omelette for breakfast this morning."
"The chef flipped the omelette so it wouldn’t burn."
"We shared a light vegetable omelette with herbs."
Pronounce as /ˌɒmɛˈlɛt/ in most American and British contexts. Stress falls on the second syllable: o-MEL-ette. Start with a light, rounded /ɒ/ (back open vowel), then /m/ with a closed mouth, then /ɛ/ as in “bet,” followed by /ˈlɛt/ where /l/ is clear and the final /t/ is released crisply. Audio reference: imagine a typical recipe video enunciating the word with clear elision between syllables; you can compare to /ˌɒməlˈɛt/ in some UK speakers.”,
Common errors include pronouncing as /ˌoʊˈmɛlɪt/ with a long American diphthong /oʊ/ instead of the short /ɒ/; misplacing stress as /ˌɒˈmɛlɛt/ by stressing the first syllable; and softening the final /t/ into a /d/ or /ɾ/ in fast speech. Correction: keep the initial /ɒ/ steady, stress the second syllable /ˈmɛ/, and end with a crisp /t/. Practice by saying o-MEL-et slowly, then gradually speed up while maintaining the crisp final consonant.
In US English, you’ll often hear /ˌɒmɛˈlɛt/ with more rounded /ɒ/ and clear final /t/. In UK English, you may hear /ˌɒmˈlɛt/ with slightly less rounded initial vowel and stronger final /t/. Australian speakers often share US-like final /t/ with subtle vowel length differences: /ˌɒːˈmɛt/ or /ˌɒmˈlɛt/ depending on region. In all, the main differences lie in vowel quality and stress placement, not in the consonant sequence.
The difficulty comes from the short, lax /ɒ/ vowel compared to more familiar /oʊ/ in American variants, plus the abrupt /t/ at the end. Non-native speakers often misplace stress or produce a final /d/ or /ɾ/. Tips: isolate each segment (O-ML-ET), practice with a crisp /t/ release, and use minimal pairs like ‘omelet’ vs ‘omelette’ to feel the difference.
A unique feature is the consonant cluster /mɛl/ followed by a tense /t/ that requires precise timing and a clear release. You’ll often notice a slight relaxation of the jaw before the final /t/, but you should maintain a crisp /t/ to avoid sounding like ‘omelet’ in some dialects. Focus on the transition from /l/ to /ɛ/ and then a confident /t/.
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Omelette derives from the French omelette, a diminutive of omelet, which first appears in the late Middle Ages. The root is likely from the Old French omelette, a derivative of omelet, related to the Latin omeleta, a small egg. The exact origin is debated, but the term was used in 14th–16th century cookery texts in France, evolving in English as omelette with the -ette suffix to denote a small or personal form. The word entered English in the 18th century, with early spellings varying (omelet, omelette). The modern English spelling standardizes to omelette in British English, while American English often adopts omelet. The pronunciation shift reflects regional vowel changes and the typical French influence on culinary vocabulary during and after the Renaissance. The concept of beaten eggs folded around fillings became common in Western cuisine, with the name sticking as the dish’s recognized label across cuisines, adapting in spelling rather than core meaning.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Omelette" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Omelette"
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