Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

let them eat cake

/lɛt ˌðɛm it keɪ̯k/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.40 in modern English

Syllables: let them eat -cake
IPA: /lɛt ˌðɛm it keɪ̯k/

25

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Used to express a profound disconnect between the elite and the unprivileged or underprivileged, suggesting a callous indifference or detachment to their suffering.

Etymology

Calque of French qu'ils mangent de la brioche. Incorrectly attributed to the last Queen of France prior to the French Revolution Marie Antoinette (1755–1793), the phrase actually originates from Confessions (Rousseau).

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /lɛt ˌðɛm it keɪ̯k/
British English: /lɛt ˌðɛm iːt keɪ̯k/

Phrases

Mad Max nasty, brutish, and short social safety net

Frequently Paired Words

Mad Max nasty, brutish, and short social safety net

Questions

How do you pronounce let them eat cake?: The recorded pronunciation is /lɛt ˌðɛm it keɪ̯k/.
What does let them eat cake mean?: Used to express a profound disconnect between the elite and the unprivileged or underprivileged, suggesting a callous indifference or detachment to their suffering.
Where does let them eat cake come from?: Calque of French qu'ils mangent de la brioche. Incorrectly attributed to the last Queen of France prior to the French Revolution Marie Antoinette (1755–1793), the phrase actually originates from Confessions (Rousseau).

How to pronounce let them eat cake

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “let them eat cake”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/lɛt ˌðɛm it keɪ̯k/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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