How to pronounce tempeh
Say it like TEM-pay. Tempeh has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tempeh. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEM
- pay
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tempeh pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- payKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of tempeh
American and British speakers say tempeh in essentially the same way: /ˈtɛmpeɪ/ in the US and /ˈtɛmpeɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: TEM-pay.
What does tempeh mean?
- An Indonesian food made from partially-cooked soybeans fermented by a fungus (either Rhizopus oligosporus or Rhizopus oryzae).
Where does tempeh come from?
From Indonesian tempe, from Malay tempe, possibly from Old Javanese tumpi (“a food made from starch and tempeh”), or Malay tapai (“fermentation”).
Questions about saying tempeh
How do you pronounce tempeh?
Say TEM-pay. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛmpeɪ/. In British English it is /ˈtɛmpeɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tempeh?
Tempeh has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEM). Broken into parts: TEM · pay.
Do Americans and Brits say tempeh the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtɛmpeɪ/ and the British form is /ˈtɛmpeɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.