How to pronounce tapir
Say it like TAY-pee-er. Tapir has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tapir. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TAY
- pee
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tapir pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- peeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tapir
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TAY-pee-uh.
What does tapir mean?
- An odd-toed ungulate of the genus Tapirus with a long prehensile upper lip.
Where does tapir come from?
Borrowed from French tapir, from Old Tupi tapi'ira.
Questions about saying tapir
How do you pronounce tapir?
Say TAY-pee-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈteɪpiər/. In British English it is /ˈteɪpiə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tapir?
Tapir has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TAY). Broken into parts: TAY · pee · er.
Is tapir 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 /ˈteɪpiə/ (TAY-pee-uh).