3 syllables: Ra, oul Du, fy. Stress on Ra.
rah-ool-DOO-fee
/ˈrɑː uːl ˈduː fi/
Raoul Dufy is pronounced rah-ool-DOO-fee (/ˈrɑː uːl ˈduː fi/). It has three syllables (Ra-oul Du-fy), with the stress on "Ra". Raoul Dufy was a 20th‑century French painter known for his bright, decorative works and lively landscapes. The name refers to the artist himself, not a common object or concept, and is primarily encountered in art historical literature and exhibition contexts. The pronunciation requires careful handling of the French first name Raoul and the French surname Dufy, with attention to French vowel quality and the final -fy sound.
proper nounRaoul Dufy was a 20th‑century French painter known for his bright, decorative works and lively landscapes. The name refers to the artist himself, not a common object or concept, and is primarily encountered in art historical literature and exhibition contexts. The pronunciation requires careful handling of the French first name Raoul and the French surname Dufy, with attention to French vowel quality and the final -fy sound.
- You may soften the French R, especially when speaking quickly; ensure a tight, breathy uvular trill/constriction rather than a soft American /ɹ/. Correct by practicing isolation of the R with a light gargled onset. - The Raoul vowel cluster /a.u/ can slide into English /aʊ/; practice by saying two versions: /a.u/ and /aʊ/ to hear the difference, then anchor to a stable /a/ plus glide to /u/. - The Dufy ending often becomes /duːfi/ or /duːfi/ with extra vowel; fix by placing the tongue for /d/ + /y/ and ending on a crisp /fi/; avoid a trailing schwa. - Do not stress Raoul; keep Dufy as the more prominent syllable in proportion to context (e.g., “Raoul DUF-y” for emphasis).
"I visited the gallery to see Raoul Dufy’s colorful waterfront scenes."
"The catalog lists a Raoul Dufy exhibition opening next month."
"Museum talk: Raoul Dufy’s use of color influenced many contemporary artists."
Pronounce it as Rah-ool /ʁa.ul/ for the given name and Doo-fee /dy.fi/ for the surname, with a French R. The stress typically falls naturally on the surname in English contexts: Raoul DU‑fee. IPA reference: Raoul /ʁa.uℎ/ roughly, Dufy /dy.fi/. In careful speech: /ʁa.u.li dy.fi/? You’ll want a light, clipped French R in Raoul and a clean /dy/ onset in Dufy. Practicing in two words: Raoul /ʁa.u/ and Dufy /dy.fi/. Audio resources: compare to Forvo entry for Raoul Dufy and Pronounce for native-like guidance.
Common errors: 1) Anglicizing the Raoul to an English 'Ray-ool' with a hard R and long A; correct to French /ʁa.u/. 2) Mispronouncing Dufy as 'Doo-fee' with a stressed syllable on ‘Doo’; correct to /dy.fi/ with a palatal onset and final /i/; the /y/ is a glide into /fi/. 3) Dropping the final French R or softening consonants; keep the French R in Raoul and avoid an American /ɹ/ flavor. Corrections: practice Raoul as two syllables with a French R; Dufy should be /dy/ followed by /fi/, no extra consonant.”,
In US, you’ll hear Raoul approximated as /ˈræ.uːl/ with a rhotic R and a longer American vowel; Dufy tends to be /dəˈfi/ or /ˈduːfi/; stress on the surname is common. UK speech may render Raoul closer to /ˈrɔːl/ or /ˈræ.wəl/ with less rolling R, and Dufy often /ˈdjuːfi/ or /ˈduːfi/ depending on speaker. Australian accents typically produce /ˈræːɒl/ or /ˈrɔːl/ with non-rhotic tendencies; Dufy tends toward /ˈdjuːfi/ or /ˈduːfi/. All versions retain the French /dy/ onset for Dufy; the key variation is the Raoul vowel and R realization.”,
The difficulty centers on the French R and the two-syllable Raoul with variable vowel quality, plus the French-phonetic -fy ending. The initial /ʁ/ requires a voiced, uvular fricative not common in English; the sequence /a.u/ in Raoul glides can be tricky, especially for R-less or non-nasalized speakers. The Dufy /dy.fi/ demands a palatal onset /dy/ and a light /fi/; many English speakers insert extra vowels or misplace stress. With practice you’ll master the French R, the Raoul vowel, and the clean Dufy ending.”,
There are no silent letters in Raoul Dufy; each syllable carries a clear vowel. The tricky element is the French R and the tight, clipped /dy/ onset in Dufy. You shouldn’t elide any syllables in most English usage; keep two distinct syllables in Raoul and two in Dufy. The unique challenge is preserving the uvular R and avoiding an English approximant; keep the final /fi/ compact with no trailing vowel. IPA checks help: /ʁa.u/ /dy.fi/.
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- US: Rhotic R; pronounce Raoul with a clearer /ɹ/ and longer /aʊ/ glide; Dufy remains /dy.fi/. - UK: Subtler R; Raoul may be closer to /ˈrɔːl/ or /ˈrɒl/; Dufy /ˈdjuːfi/ or /ˈduːfi/ depending on speaker. - AU: Often non-rhotic; Raoul may lose coda R; Dufy tends toward /ˈdyːfi/ or /ˈduːfi/. IPA anchors: Raoul /ʁa.u/; Dufy /dy.fi/. - General: keep lips rounded for /u/ in Raoul, then spread for /a/ on the onset; maintain a light contact /d/ and palatal /j/ in /dy/; ensure /fi/ is crisp with a short, high-front vowel.”,
Raoul is a French given name of Germanic origin, derived from Ralph or Radulf, combining elements raed (counsel) and wulf (wolf); it became common in medieval France, with modern usage preserved in masculine names. Dufy is a French surname likely derived from a toponymic or occupational descriptor, possibly related to forms like Dufay or Dufay (a name recorded in medieval documents). The surname appears in French records from the 16th century onward and is most famously associated with Raoul Dufy (1877–1953), the painter. The combination Raoul Dufy entered English-language art criticism and museum catalogs as a proper name, with uniform pronunciation guided by French norms rather than English phonology. First known use as a labeled artist appears in late 19th to early 20th century references, and by mid‑century the reading Ra-ool Doo-fee (French [ʁo dyfi]) was established in English‑language art discourse. Over time, English readers often Anglicized the vowels, but standard references today aim for a faithful French pronunciation, preserving the final “fy” as /fi/ rather than an English “fee” that might obscure the French consonant blend.
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Words that rhyme with "Raoul Dufy"
-ali sounds
-ffy sounds
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