5 syllables: piece, de, re, sis, tance. Stress on sis.
pees duh riz-IS-tuhns
/piːs də rɪˈzɪstəns/
Piece De Resistance is pronounced pees duh riz-IS-tuhns (/piːs də rɪˈzɪstəns/). It has five syllables (piece-de-re-sis-tance), with the stress on "sis". As a noun, a refined, often theatrical, object or achievement celebrated as the standout feature of a larger work or performance. Though borrowed from French, the phrase is used in English to denote the principal, most impressive moment or element. It implies curated excellence and exceptional craftsmanship within a context.
nounA refined, often theatrical, object or achievement celebrated as the standout feature of a larger work or performance. Though borrowed from French, the phrase is used in English to denote the principal, most impressive moment or element. It implies curated excellence and exceptional craftsmanship within a context.
How to Pronounce Piece De Resistance
"The director saved the piece de resistance for the final act, leaving the audience in awe."
"In his portfolio, the silver sculpture was the piece de resistance that defined the collection."
"The chef presented a dessert that was the piece de resistance of the menu."
Pronounce as /piːs də rɪˈzɪstəns/ in US, /piːs də rɪˈzɪstəns/ in UK, and similarly in AU. Key stresses: the second syllable of resistance carries primary stress: ri-ZIS-təns. Because it’s French-origin, keep the two-word mount: “Piece” (long ee) and “de” as a soft, quick schwa. Audio reference: listen for the crisp final -s and the rhoticity not overtly rolled. Practice by emphasizing the central stress on RES- in resistance while keeping “piece” light and the de as a quick connector.”,
Common errors: 1) Dropping the final -e and misplacing stress on resistance (say ri-ZIS-təns, not ri-ZIS-tãns). 2) Treating 'de' as a strong syllable instead of a quick, unstressed de (də). 3) Anglicizing the whole phrase with a flat tempo, losing the crisp French-nuance on de. Corrections: emphasize ‘Piece’ with a long /iː/ and reduce de to a soft schwa /də/, place primary stress on /rɪˈzɪs/, and maintain a brisk, elegant pace between words.
In US/UK/AU, the phrase remains similar: main stress on resistance: ri-ZIS-təns. US rhotic influence slightly colors the /ɹ/; UK tends to crisper /ɹ/ and faster de. AU tends toward clipped de and more even syllable timing. The vowel in piece remains /iː/; de is /də/; final -s is /s/. Overall, rhythm is slightly more melismatic in formal US/UK speech; Australians may compress the phrase a touch more, with minimal vowel length differences and a slightly flatter intonation.
The difficulty stems from the French-origin structure: de as a light, unstressed connector; resistance with a three-syllable, accented final; among English objections, maintaining crisp separation with natural flow is tricky. The primary challenge is the Schwa-rich connecting syllable (də) and the stressed internal syllable ri-ZIS-təns. Also, the phrase’s prestige context encourages careful, slower delivery, which can feel unnatural in casual speech. Focus on stress placement and exact vowel qualities (iː, ə, ɪ, ə).
Unique question: Is it acceptable to drop the 'de' in casual speech? In careful, formal contexts you should retain /də/ as a light connector; dropping it can degrade formality and accuracy. In very casual usage you might hear “Piece resistance” or “piece da resistance” in some colloquial speech, but that reduces the phrase’s intended meaning and prestige. Always aim for the full phrase in evaluation contexts.
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US: rhotics; more velar timing; longer vowels in piece. UK/AU: crisper /d/ and /ə/, quicker de; less rolling of the r and shorter vowels; rhoticity less pronounced in UK. Vowel qualities: piece /piːs/ long iː; resistance /rɪˈzɪstəns/ with a mid-low vowel in the second syllable; final /əns/ has a brief schwa before -ns. IPA references: as above; aim for comparable intensity across accents.
Piece de resistance is a French phrase literally translating to “piece of resistance.” It originated in the French language to denote a standout feature or the most striking element. Although it entered English usage, the phrase retains its French article combination: piece (pʰiːs) meaning “piece” and de (də) meaning “of,” with resistance (ʁezistɑ̃s) referencing a “resisting” or notable element. Historically, the expression implied the most difficult or hard-wearing portion of something, such as a construction or work of art, hence “the piece that resists all other parts” in metaphorical form. The phrase has appeared in English literary and critical contexts since the 19th century, often used in fine art, theater, and culinary circles to denote the signature achievement that defines the whole piece. Over time, it softened from a literal physical piece to a figurative focal point that showcases peak artistry, craft, or invention within a body of work. In modern usage, it’s commonly italicized or kept in plain text as a borrowed French term, with pronunciation often adapted to English phonology while retaining the accent nuance in formal writing. The first known written appearances in English likely date to critical reviews and glossaries in the late 1800s, aligning with a broader trend of adopting French terms to convey elegance or prestige in arts discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "Piece De Resistance"
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