How to pronounce temple
Say it like TEM-pul. Temple 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 temple. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEM
- pul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Temple 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.
- pulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of temple
American and British speakers say temple in essentially the same way: /ˈtɛmpəl/ in the US and /ˈtɛmpəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: TEM-pul.
What does temple mean?
- place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
- the flat area on either side of the forehead“the veins in his temple throbbed”
- an edifice devoted to special or exalted purposes
Where does temple come from?
From Middle English temple, from Old English templ, tempel, borrowed from Latin templum (“shrine, temple, area for auspices”).
Questions about saying temple
How do you pronounce temple?
Say TEM-pul. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛmpəl/. In British English it is /ˈtɛmpəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in temple?
Temple has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEM). Broken into parts: TEM · pul.
Do Americans and Brits say temple the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtɛmpəl/ and the British form is /ˈtɛmpəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.