How to pronounce Tennessee
Say it like ten-uh-SEE. Tennessee has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Tennessee. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ten
- uh
- SEE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tennessee pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tenGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of Tennessee
American and British speakers say Tennessee in essentially the same way: /ˌtɛnəˈsi/ in the US and /ˌtɛnəˈsiː/ in the UK.
British respelling: ten-uh-SEE.
What does Tennessee mean?
- A state of the United States.
- A river in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky, United States, that flows from eastern Tennessee into the Ohio River.
Where does Tennessee come from?
From Cherokee ᏔᎾᏏ (tanasi), believed to mean “winding river”.
Words that rhyme with Tennessee
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Tennessee.
Questions about saying Tennessee
How do you pronounce Tennessee?
Say ten-uh-SEE. The American pronunciation is /ˌtɛnəˈsi/. In British English it is /ˌtɛnəˈsiː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Tennessee?
Tennessee has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SEE). Broken into parts: ten · uh · SEE.
Do Americans and Brits say Tennessee the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌtɛnəˈsi/ and the British form is /ˌtɛnəˈsiː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.