Pronunciation Guide • English (from French)
How to Pronounce faux pas
Difficulty: medium
IPA Transcription
/ˌfoʊ ˈpɑː/
Why is it so hard to pronounce?
foh PAH. The "x" in faux is silent, and the "s" in pas is also silent (French plural rule). So this looks like it should be "faux paz" but sounds like "foh PAH".
💡 Pro Tip for faux pas
foh-PAH. Rhymes with "show-spa".
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Hear 'faux pas' Audio Now →Word Origins
The term faux pas originates from French "faux pas" (false step). Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.