Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

moue

/muː/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.03 in modern English

Syllables: moue
IPA: /muː/

6

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A pout, especially as expressing mock-annoyance or flirtatiousness.

Example Sentences

"[S]he looked at her face and made a moue in the glass; and never stopped for Laura’s answer to the questions which she had put."
"She glanced aside to the rim of the looking-glass where his photograph was wedged, shuddered, and made a moue of distaste."
"She made what I believe, though I wouldn't swear to it, is called a moue. Putting the lips together and shoving them out, if you know what I mean. The impression I got was that she was disappointed in Bertram, having expected better things […]."
"Why do you wear European clothes?" fumed Oscar de la Renta with a moue of disapproval and stamp of his bejewelled foot (probably)."

Etymology

Borrowed from French moue, from Old French moe (“grimace”), from Frankish *mauwa (“pout, protruding lip”). Doublet of mow ("grimace").

Origin

Source language: French

Word Breakdown

Root: moue, moe, *mauwu

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /muː/
British English: /muː/

Inflected Forms

moues (plural)

Synonyms

pout wry face

Homonyms

moo

Rhymes With

to you do who to-do new two too through few true due

Questions

How do you pronounce moue?: The recorded pronunciation is /muː/.
What does moue mean?: A pout, especially as expressing mock-annoyance or flirtatiousness.
Where does moue come from?: It is traced to French.

How to pronounce moue

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “moue”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/muː/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “moue”.
Repeat and practice — Say “moue” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.