A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Hermès
The French luxury brand's name is pronounced with a French 'r' and a silent 's'.
hermès
er-MEZ
/ɛʁˈmɛz/ · er · MEZ
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It's frequently mentioned in fashion magazines, online style guides, and discussions about expensive accessories like handbags and scarves.
Where the word comes from
The brand is named after the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the gods. The name comes from Ancient Greek.
Common ways people get it wrong
- her-MEES Many English speakers add an 's' sound at the end of French words, but the final 's' in 'Hermès' is silent.
- HER-mez The stress is on the second syllable, not the first. Also, the 'r' sound is more guttural than the typical American 'r'.
Frequently asked
How do you pronounce the brand Hermès?
It's pronounced er-MEZ. The 'r' is a French 'r', and the final 's' is silent.
Is it HERMES or Hermès?
The brand name is spelled Hermès with a diaeresis (two dots) over the 'e'. This indicates the 'e' is pronounced separately, and the 's' at the end is silent.
What does the accent on Hermès mean?
The accent mark (diaeresis) over the 'e' in Hermès tells you to pronounce the 'e' as a distinct syllable, not to blend it with the preceding vowel. It also signals that the final 's' is silent.
What is the real pronunciation of Hermes?
The most common pronunciation in English is HER-meez. The French pronunciation is closer to er-MEZ.
Is it her meez or her mess?
It is generally pronounced 'her-meez' in English. The 's' at the end is pronounced.
Is it pronounced Hermes or Ermes?
In French, the 'H' is silent, so it is pronounced closer to 'Ermes'. In English, the 'H' is typically pronounced.
How do you pronounce Hermès brand in French?
In French, the pronunciation is approximately er-MEZ, with a silent 'H' and a pronounced 'S' at the end.
