How to pronounce tempestuous
Say it like tem-PES-choo-us. Tempestuous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tempestuous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tem
- PES
- choo
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tempestuous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- temKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- PESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- chooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tempestuous
American and British speakers say tempestuous in essentially the same way: /tɛmˈpɛstʃuəs/ in the US and /tɛmˈpɛstjʊəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: tem-PES-tyuu-us.
What does tempestuous mean?
- Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a tempest; also, of a place: frequently experiencing tempests; (very) stormy.
- Characterized by disorderly, frenetic, or violent activity; stormy, tumultuous, turbulent; also, of a person, their behavior or nature, etc.: characterized by bouts of bad temper or sudden changes of mood; impetuous, stormy, temperamental.“After their tempestuous argument, they did not speak to each other for weeks.”
Where does tempestuous come from?
From Late Middle English tempestious, tempestous, tempestuous (“stormy, turbulent, tempestuous”), from Anglo-Norman tempestous, and Old French tempesteus, tempestos, tempestous, tempestuose (modern French tempétueux), and directly from its
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with tempestuous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tempestuous.
Questions about saying tempestuous
How do you pronounce tempestuous?
Say tem-PES-choo-us. The American pronunciation is /tɛmˈpɛstʃuəs/. In British English it is /tɛmˈpɛstjʊəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tempestuous?
Tempestuous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PES). Broken into parts: tem · PES · choo · us.
Do Americans and Brits say tempestuous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tɛmˈpɛstʃuəs/ and the British form is /tɛmˈpɛstjʊəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.