How to pronounce tense
Say it like TENS. Tense is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tense. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TENS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tense pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TENSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of tense
American and British speakers say tense in essentially the same way: /tɛns/ in the US and /tɛns/ in the UK.
British respelling: TENS.
What does tense mean?
- a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
- become stretched or tense or taut“the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed”“the rope strained when the weight was attached”
- increase the tension on“alternately relax and tense your calf muscle”“tense the rope manually before tensing the spring”
- become tense, nervous, or uneasy“He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room”
- in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
- pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in beat)
- taut or rigid; stretched tight“tense piano strings”
Where does tense come from?
From Middle English tens, from Old French tens (modern French temps), from Latin tempus.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with tense
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tense.
Questions about saying tense
How do you pronounce tense?
Say TENS. The American pronunciation is /tɛns/. In British English it is /tɛns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tense?
Tense is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TENS.
Do Americans and Brits say tense the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tɛns/ and the British form is /tɛns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.