How to pronounce tenor
Say it like TEN-er. Tenor has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tenor. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEN
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tenor pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of tenor
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TEN-uh.
What does tenor mean?
- A musical range or section higher than bass and lower than alto.
- A person, instrument, or group that performs in the tenor (higher than bass and lower than alto) range.
- The lowest tuned in a ring of bells.
- Of or pertaining to the tenor part or range.“He has a tenor voice.”
Where does tenor come from?
From Middle English tenour, from Anglo-Norman tenour, from Old French tenor (“substance, contents, meaning, sense; tenor part in music”), from Latin tenor (“course, continuance; holder”), from teneō (“to hold”).
Words that rhyme with tenor
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tenor.
Words that sound like tenor
Questions about saying tenor
How do you pronounce tenor?
Say TEN-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛnɚ/. In British English it is /ˈtɛnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tenor?
Tenor has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEN). Broken into parts: TEN · er.
Is tenor 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 /ˈtɛnə/ (TEN-uh).
What words sound the same as tenor?
Tenor sounds the same as tenner in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.