How to pronounce tenuous
Say it like TEN-yuh-wus. Tenuous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEN).
VoiceSpeed
US American/ˈtɛnjəwəs/TEN-yuh-wus
UK British/ˈtɛnjʊəs/TEN-yoors
- TEN
- yuh
- wus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tenuous 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.
- yuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- wusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tenuous
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2.
British respelling: TEN-yoors.
What does tenuous mean?
adjective
- Thin in substance or consistency.“The aether was thought to be of tenuous strands.”
- Insubstantial.“His argument was not convincing in the debate, considering how tenuous it was.”
- Precarious, dependent upon unreliable things.
Where does tenuous come from?
Irregularly formed from Latin tenuis (“thin, slight”) + -ous.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying tenuous
How do you pronounce tenuous?
Say TEN-yuh-wus. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛnjəwəs/. In British English it is /ˈtɛnjʊəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tenuous?
Tenuous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEN). Broken into parts: TEN · yuh · wus.
Is tenuous pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2. The British form is /ˈtɛnjʊəs/ (TEN-yoors).