2 syllables: Pas, se. Stress on se.
pas-AY
/ˌpæˈseɪ/
Passe is pronounced pas-AY (/ˌpæˈseɪ/). It has two syllables (Pas-se), with the stress on "se". Passe is a masculine French noun meaning out of date or passé; in English it often describes something or someone that is no longer fashionable or current. It can also appear in fashion discourse to refer to an outmoded style or trend. In general usage, it conveys obsolescence or antiquated style rather than quality or value.
nounPasse is a masculine French noun meaning out of date or passé; in English it often describes something or someone that is no longer fashionable or current. It can also appear in fashion discourse to refer to an outmoded style or trend. In general usage, it conveys obsolescence or antiquated style rather than quality or value.
"The designer collection felt très passé, with colors and silhouettes that looked dated."
"Her accessory choice seemed passe, so she opted for something more current."
"The term passe is frequently used in fashion journalism to critique trends that have lost momentum."
In English usage, pronounce as pas-SAY, with the final -é sounding like /eɪ/. IPA (US/UK) is /pæˈseɪ/ or /pɑːˈseɪ/ depending on you accent; US tends to /æ/ in the first syllable, UK/AU often use /ɑː/ or a broader /ɑː/. Place lips neutral, keep a short haptic breath, and release the final /eɪ/ with slight elongation. The stress is on the second syllable: pas-SAY. Listening example: you’ll hear “passé” in fashion commentary pronounced as /pæˈseɪ/ or /pɑːˈseɪ/ depending on your region.
Common errors include: (1) pronouncing it as PASS, with a hard /s/ instead of /seɪ/. (2) Misplacing the stress on the first syllable (PASSE). (3) Treating -e as a silent letter; you should voice a clear /eɪ/ at the end. To correct: gently release a final /eɪ/ from the /s/ via a brief glide, keep the /s/ crisp, and stress the second syllable. Finally, avoid shortening the final vowel to /æ/; aim for /eɪ/ to echo French influência.
In US pronunciation, you often hear /pæˈseɪ/, with a short front vowel in the first syllable. UK/AU accents may render the first syllable as /pɑː/ or /pɑ/ with a longer, open vowel, still keeping /seɪ/ for the second syllable. The final /eɪ/ is voiced with a near-close front position. Rhotic speakers may maintain a lightly pronounced /r/ in surrounding context, but not in the word itself. Overall: US tends to shorter first vowel, UK/AU longer, broader mouth opening.
It's difficult because it blends a French accent in English—an acute -é ending that often becomes a crisp /eɪ/ in English, which can be unfamiliar. The stress pattern pas-SAY contrasts with many English two-syllable words where stress isn’t on the final syllable’s vowel. The first syllable has a short or open vowel that can drift toward /æ/ or /ɑː/ depending on speaker, and the ending requires a precise /eɪ/ glide that many learners substitute with /e/ or shorten, reducing natural sound.
No; the final -e is not silent in English usage. It carries the /eɪ/ sound, creating the second syllable /seɪ/. In casual French, the -é is more like [e], but in English you’ll want the longer diphthong /eɪ/. This nuance matters for sounding natural; you’re signaling the word's French origin while maintaining English sound patterns. Practice the glide from /s/ into /eɪ/ to ensure a clean, audible end.
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Passe comes from the French adjective passé, meaning 'gone by' or 'past'. The word itself derives from the Latin passéus, past participle of passus, meaning 'having passed'. In French, passé carries the dual meaning of 'past' in temporal terms and the sense of something finished or bygone, which extended into English fashion discourse by the early 20th century. English adoption retained the accent mark in some scholarly or stylistic uses (e.g., passé), but in everyday English it is often written without the accent as passe. The historical trajectory mirrors a broader trend of borrowing French fashion terminology into English to convey refined, nuanced critiques of styles and trends. First known English usage traces to fashion journalism in the 1920s–1930s, paralleling the rise of haute couture discourse when designers celebrated or criticized cycles of trends as passé. Over decades, its usage broadened to describe any object or concept that feels antiquated, not just clothing. The word’s pronunciation has leaned into English phonology while preserving its French flavor, typically pronounced as pas-say in English contexts or as pah-seh in French-speaking contexts, highlighting subtle but important phonetic contrast between languages. In contemporary usage, the term frequently appears in discussions of cyclical fashion and media commentary on trends, maintaining its sense of obsolescence without implying poor quality.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Passe" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Passe" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Passe"
-ass sounds
-gas sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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