What’s the Correct Pronunciation of Silhouette?

What’s the Correct Pronunciation of Silhouette?

Silhouettes have been around for centuries and are an important part of art, design, and culture. Though we all recognize them, many people are unsure of how to pronounce the word. Is it sil-oo-ET or sil-oo-ETTE?

The correct pronunciation is sil-oo-ETTE. This is because the French word from which the English Silhouette is derived was originally spelled with two “t”s at the end: “Silhouette.” The first use of the term in English is attributed to Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy in 1881 in his book History of England Volume II.

Silhouette derives from Étienne de Silhouette (1709–1767), a French finance minister who was famous for creating simple black outlines, or Silhouettes, of people and animals as a hobby. These became popular amongst the French elite in the 18th century and were used to create humorous and satirical images. The term soon came to refer to any outline drawing that represented a person or thing in profile view.

Though Silhouettes were initially created by hand cutting paper, modern technology has made it much easier to create them through digital methods such as photography and computer software programs. Silhouettes can be found on everything from greeting cards to t-shirts, posters to wall art – making them one of the most recognizable art forms around!

No matter how you choose to create them, it’s important to remember that the correct pronunciation is sil-oo-ETTE – so you can be sure you are saying it correctly when discussing these iconic images with friends or colleagues!

Conclusion: In conclusion, the correct pronunciation of Silhouette is sil-oo-ETTE due to its French origin and its first use in English being attributed to Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy in 1881. Throughout history, Silhouettes have been used as a form of art and expression – and they continue to be popular today thanks to modern technology making them easier than ever before!