A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Eiffel Tower
Pronounce the iconic Parisian landmark: EYE-ful TOW-er.
eiffel tower
EYE-ful TOW-er
/ˈaɪfəl ˈtaʊər/ · eye · ful tow · er
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It's a common reference in conversations about iconic architecture and European tourism.
Where the word comes from
The Eiffel Tower is named after Gustave Eiffel, the engineer whose company designed and built the tower. His surname, Eiffel, is of German origin.
Common ways people get it wrong
- EF-ful TOW-er Some speakers might pronounce the first syllable like 'eff' due to the common 'e' sound in English words, but it's an 'eye' sound like in 'eye'.
- EYE-ful TOWER-er The second word is 'tower', not 'tower-er'. Focus on the two distinct syllables: TOW-er.
Frequently asked
How do Americans say Eiffel Tower?
Most Americans pronounce it as EYE-ful TOW-er. The emphasis is on the first syllable of each word.
Is it Eiffel Tower or Eiffel's Tower?
It is simply called the Eiffel Tower. The 'Eiffel' refers to the engineer Gustave Eiffel, but it's not possessive.
What's the correct pronunciation in French?
In French, it's pronounced roughly as 'Eff-fell Tah-ver'. The English pronunciation adapts these sounds for an English speaker.
