How to pronounce tenuis
Say it like TEN-yoo-is. Tenuis has three 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 tenuis. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEN
- yoo
- is
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tenuis 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.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- isKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of tenuis
American and British speakers say tenuis in essentially the same way: /ˈtɛnjuɪs/ in the US and /ˈtɛnjuːɪs/ in the UK.
British respelling: TEN-yoo-is.
What does tenuis mean?
- Of Greek consonants, neither aspirated nor voiced, as [p], [t],
- Of obstruents in other languages, not voiced, aspirated, glottalized, or otherwise different in phonation from the prototypical values of the voiceless IPA letters ([p], [t], [k], [f], [θ], [s], [ʃ], etc.).
- A tenuis consonant.
Where does tenuis come from?
Unadapted borrowing from Latin tenuis (“thin, fine; weak”).
Questions about saying tenuis
How do you pronounce tenuis?
Say TEN-yoo-is. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛnjuɪs/. In British English it is /ˈtɛnjuːɪs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tenuis?
Tenuis has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEN). Broken into parts: TEN · yoo · is.
Do Americans and Brits say tenuis the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtɛnjuɪs/ and the British form is /ˈtɛnjuːɪs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.