How to pronounce sempiternal
Say it like sem-pih-TUR-nul. Sempiternal has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sempiternal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sem
- pih
- TUR
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sempiternal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- semGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- pihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- TURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- nulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sempiternal
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: sem-pih-TUR-nul.
What does sempiternal mean?
- Everlasting, eternal.
- Having infinite temporal duration, rather than outside time and thus lacking temporal duration altogether; everlasting.
Where does sempiternal come from?
From Old French sempiternel, from Medieval Latin sempiternālis, from Latin sempiternus, a contraction of semperæternus, from semper (“always”) + æternus (“eternal”).
Words that rhyme with sempiternal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sempiternal.
Questions about saying sempiternal
How do you pronounce sempiternal?
Say sem-pih-TUR-nul. The American pronunciation is /ˌsɛmpɪˈtɝnəl/. In British English it is /ˌsɛmpɪˈtɜːnəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sempiternal?
Sempiternal has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TUR). Broken into parts: sem · pih · TUR · nul.
Is sempiternal 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 /ˌsɛmpɪˈtɜːnəl/ (sem-pih-TUR-nul).