How Do You Pronounce Etienne De Silhouette?

Etienne de Silhouette was a French minister and controller-general of finances during the reign of King Louis XV in the 18th century. He is remembered for his cost-cutting policies which brought about the phrase “à la Silhouette,” meaning something inexpensive. He also gave his name to an art form that is still popular today. So, how do you pronounce Etienne de Silhouette?

The correct pronunciation of Etienne de Silhouette is ay-tee-EN duh sil-oo-ETT. The first word, “Etienne,” is pronounced with a long E sound and a soft T, followed by a schwa sound (the uh sound) at the end. The second word, “de,” is pronounced like the English word “duh.” The last word, “Silhouette,” has two syllables and rhymes with “bet.

Etienne de Silhouette was born in 1709 and served as Controller General of Finances under King Louis XV from 1759 until his death in 1767. As Controller General, he implemented measures to reduce government spending and balance the budget. His policies were unpopular with many people at the time as they affected their lifestyle and livelihoods.

The phrase “à la Silhouette” originated during this period to describe anything cheap or inexpensive. This phrase soon spread throughout Europe and across the Atlantic where it remains in use today.

In addition to giving us a phrase that has become part of our language today, Etienne de Silhouette also gave us an art form that bears his name. A Silhouette portrait is a profile image created by cutting out black paper or card against a light background. They were popular during his lifetime but continue to be used today.

So in conclusion, how do you pronounce Etienne de Silhouette? The correct pronunciation is ay-tee-EN duh sil-oo-ETT.