The silhouette is a popular visual concept across many different mediums, from photography to film and even fashion. As the term has become more mainstream, the question of whether or not the “H” is silent in the word has been asked by many. To answer this question definitively, we must look at the origin of the word and its pronunciation.
The term silhouette was first used in France in 1782 by Étienne de Silhouette. He was a finance minister for King Louis XV and had a penchant for writing profiles of people using only their outlines.
This practice was then used to describe any image that is an outline of a person or object. The term itself comes from his surname, which in French is pronounced “see-loo-ETTE”.
The “H” in Silhouette is silent when pronounced according to its French origin. The correct pronunciation is “see-loo-ETTE.” However, over time and through usage, the word has been adopted by other languages and cultures with slight variations in pronunciation.
For example, some English-speaking countries pronounce it as “sil-oo-ETTE” or even “sil-oo-WETT” since they don’t have an exact equivalent for the French pronunciation. While these pronunciations are technically incorrect when referring to its original source, they are widely accepted and understood by native speakers.
In conclusion, while there may be slight variations in pronunciation from culture to culture, the answer to whether or not the “H” is silent in Silhouette is yes – it should be pronounced as “see-loo-ETTE.”
Is the H Silent in Silhouette?
Yes – the “H” should be silent when pronouncing Silhouette according to its French origin, with the correct pronunciation being “see-loo-ETTE.” However, over time and through usage, slight variations of this pronunciation have been accepted by native speakers.