3 syllables: Re, port, age. Stress on port.
rip-AWR-tij
/ɹɪˈpɔɹtɪdʒ/
Reportage is pronounced rip-AWR-tij (/ɹɪˈpɔɹtɪdʒ/). It has three syllables (Re-port-age), with the stress on "port". Reportage is a noun meaning a collection or presentation of news stories and documentary-style reporting, typically created by journalists or photographers. It emphasizes descriptive, on-the-ground journalism and immersive storytelling, often with a cohesive narrative and visual or multimedia elements. In practice, reportage may appear as a feature, feature-length piece, or an entire series focusing on a particular event or issue.
nounReportage is a noun meaning a collection or presentation of news stories and documentary-style reporting, typically created by journalists or photographers. It emphasizes descriptive, on-the-ground journalism and immersive storytelling, often with a cohesive narrative and visual or multimedia elements. In practice, reportage may appear as a feature, feature-length piece, or an entire series focusing on a particular event or issue.
"The documentary features powerful reportage from war-torn regions."
"Her reportage on climate change blended interviews, data, and striking imagery."
"The magazine publishes weekly reportage that reads like a travelogue and a report."
Pronounce it as re-PORT-age, with primary stress on the second syllable: /rɪˈpɔːtɑːʒ/ in a general sense; in careful speech you’ll hear a final affricate /tɑːʒ/ or /tɪdʒ/ depending on accent. For US: /rɪˈpɔːrətʃ/ would be an overcorrection; standard is /ˈrɛpɔˌtɑʒ/ in some dictionaries, but commonly /ˈrɒpɪtɪdʒ/ is not correct. Use /rɪˈpɔːtɪdʒ/ in UK and /rɪˈpɔːtɑːʒ/ in US; aim for the “port-” as in portfolio and end with -age as /ɑʒ/ or /ɪdʒ/ depending on speaker. Audio reference: imagine a slow, clear enunciation on the second syllable, then a crisp -age ending.
Common mistakes: 1) Flattening the second syllable’s vowel into a quick, weak schwa; keep the stressed /ɔː/ or /ɔːr/ sound. 2) Misplacing stress, saying re-POR-tage instead of re-PORT-age. 3) Final consonant mispronunciation, treating -age as /-ɪdʒ/ vs /-ɑːʒ/. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with a clear long vowel, then finish with a precise /tɑːʒ/ or /tɪdʒ/ depending on dialect. Practice with minimal pairs and record yourself to ensure the /ɔː/ and /t/ blend are smooth.
US tends to have rhotic /r/; stress on the second syllable with a longer /ɔː/ followed by a clear /tɪdʒ/ or /tɑːʒ/ ending. UK often has non-rhotic behavior; pronunciation may tilt toward /rɪˈpɔːtɪdʒ/ with a lighter r. Australian typically features a more centralized vowel /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ with a clipped final /dʒ/ depending on speaker. Across all, the key is /ˈrɪˈpɔːtɪdʒ/ vs /rɪˈpɔːtɪdʒ/ and the exact vowel length. IPA references differ slightly by dictionary; aim for the second-syllable peak and a crisp -age finish.
Difficulties center on the “port” vowel and the final “age” consonant cluster. The /ɔː/ in the stressed syllable can be unfamiliar if your L1 uses a shorter vowel. The final -age often becomes an affricate /-ɪdʒ/ or /-ɑːʒ/, which many learners mispronounce as /-eɪdʒ/ or /-eɪdʒ/. Focus on the long back vowel, crisp /t/ release, and the /dʒ/ sound. Practice maintaining tension in the jaw while releasing the final affricate smoothly.
A unique feature is the crisp, three-syllable rhythm with a strong secondary vowel onset between syllables (re-PORT-age). The second syllable has a relatively strong vowel and a clean consonant onset, while the final -age tail can sound like /-ɑːʒ/ or /-ɪdʒ/. This combination creates a distinct, journalistic cadence that can be felt more in careful style guides and formal speech. Remember to keep the second syllable prominent and the final affricate clean.
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The word reportage comes from the French reportage, derived from reporter (to report) with the -age noun-forming suffix. In French, rapporter means to bring back or recount; reporter originally signified a messenger or one who brings back information. The English adoption dates to the 19th century, when journalism and documentary writing expanded. Early usage framed reportage as the act of reporting, particularly in a journalistic or documentary sense, distinct from opinion pieces. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, reportage had settled into a specialized term for descriptive news writing or photographic documentation, often associated with immersive, on-site reporting. The term thus carries a sense of gathered evidence, firsthand observation, and narrative coherence, rather than mere summary or gossip. Over time, reportage broadened to include multimedia forms—photoessays, radio features, and, later, digital storytelling—while maintaining its emphasis on factual detail, credibility, and evocative storytelling that transports the reader or viewer to the scene.
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Words that rhyme with "Reportage"
-age sounds
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