How to pronounce interstice
Say it like in-TER-stus. Interstice has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce interstice. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- TER
- stus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Interstice pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- TERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- stusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of interstice
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: in-TUR-stis.
What does interstice mean?
- A small opening or space between objects, especially adjacent objects or objects set closely together, such as between cords in a rope, components of a multiconductor electrical cable or atoms in a crystal.
- A fragment of space.
- An interval of time required by the Roman Catholic Church between the attainment of different degrees of an order.
Where does interstice come from?
From late Middle English interstice, from Old French interstice or directly from Latin interstitium (“a space between, gap, interval”), ultimately from intersistere (“to stand in between, to stop in the middle”), from inter- + sistere (“to stand, to stop”).
Questions about saying interstice
How do you pronounce interstice?
Say in-TER-stus. The American pronunciation is /ɪnˈtɚstəs/. In British English it is /ɪnˈtɜːstɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in interstice?
Interstice has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TER). Broken into parts: in · TER · stus.
Is interstice pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ɪnˈtɜːstɪs/ (in-TUR-stis).