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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Word Origins

The term faux pas originates from French "faux pas" (false step). Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.