How to pronounce tarnation
Say it like tar-NAY-shun. Tarnation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tarnation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tar
- NAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tarnation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tarKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- NAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tarnation
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: tah-NAY-shun.
What does tarnation mean?
- Bothersome; devilish.
- Generic intensifier.
- Very; extremely.
Where does tarnation come from?
From darnation, influenced by tarnal (from eternal); see darn.
Words that rhyme with tarnation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tarnation.
- information
- education
- situation
- association
- population
- station
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
Questions about saying tarnation
How do you pronounce tarnation?
Say tar-NAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /tɑrˈneɪʃən/. In British English it is /tɑːˈneɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tarnation?
Tarnation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAY). Broken into parts: tar · NAY · shun.
Is tarnation 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 /tɑːˈneɪʃən/ (tah-NAY-shun).