Pronunciation guide

How to pronounce renaissance

REN-uh-sahns (US, stress up front) or ruh-NAY-suns (UK, stress in the middle)

US/ˈɹɛnəˌsɑns/

ɹɛnəsɑns

UK/ɹəˈneɪsəns/

ɹəneɪsəns

New to IPA symbols? Read the IPA guide.

What “renaissance” means

A revival of, or renewed interest in, something, especially art, culture, or learning.

(capitalised) The Renaissance: the flowering of art, literature, and learning in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century.

In a sentence

  • The Renaissance was a period of revived interest in classical art and learning.
  • The neighbourhood is enjoying a cultural renaissance, with new galleries and theatres opening.

Say it out loud a few times, then check yourself.

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Definitions and examples are derived from Wiktionary, used under CC BY-SA 4.0, then edited by QuickPronounce. Pronunciation data draws on CMUdict.