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How to pronounce

Genre

/ˈʒɑːn.rə/

🇺🇸

US English

/ˈʒɑːn.rə/

Active
🇬🇧

UK English

/ˈʒɒn.rə/

Speed

Genre is pronounced ZHAHN-ruh — two syllables, with the stress on the first. The opening sound is a soft "zh" (like the s in "measure" or "vision"), not a hard "j" as in "jam". In US English it's /ˈʒɑːn.rə/; in UK English the first vowel is a little rounder, /ˈʒɒn.rə/. The word keeps its French roots, which is why the g doesn't sound the way it looks.

Pronunciation Guide

Tricky

Syllables

ZHAHN · ruh

Pronouncing the initial 'g' like the 'j' in 'jam'.

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Why “Genre” is hard to pronounce

The "zh" sound barely exists in English — English almost never starts a word with this sound, so speakers instinctively reach for a hard "j" (jon-ruh), which is the most common mistake. The spelling misleads, too: the g looks like it should be hard (as in "go") or a "j" (as in "gem"), but it is neither. And the ending is a weak schwa, not a full "uh" — it is ruh, said quickly and unstressed, not "roo" or "ray".

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pronounce "genre"?
It's said ZHAHN-ruh (US /ˈʒɑːn.rə/, UK /ˈʒɒn.rə/) — two syllables, stress on the first, with a soft "zh" sound at the start like the s in "measure."
Is "genre" pronounced with a "j" sound?
No. The g is a soft "zh" sound, not a hard "j." Saying "JON-ruh" is the most common mistake; the correct start is "ZHAHN."
How do you pronounce the plural "genres"?
ZHAHN-ruz — the same as the singular with a "z" sound added at the end.
Is the pronunciation of "genre" different in US and UK English?
Slightly. The first vowel is a bit rounder in UK English (/ˈʒɒn.rə/) than in US English (/ˈʒɑːn.rə/), but both use the same soft "zh" opening.
Practice Speaking
Accent

Tap the mic, say “genre”, then stop.

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