How to pronounce tergiversation
Say it like tur-jih-ver-SAY-shun. Tergiversation has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (SAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tergiversation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tur
- jih
- ver
- SAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tergiversation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- turKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- jihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- verKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- SAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tergiversation
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: tur-jih-vuh-SAY-shun.
What does tergiversation mean?
- The act of abandoning something or someone, of changing sides; desertion; betrayal.
- The act of evading any clear course of action or speech, of being deliberately ambiguous; equivocation; fickleness.
Where does tergiversation come from?
From Latin tergiversātiō, from tergiversārī (“to turn one's back, to evade, to avoid”) + -tiō (“-tion: forming abstract nouns”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with tergiversation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tergiversation.
Questions about saying tergiversation
How do you pronounce tergiversation?
Say tur-jih-ver-SAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /tɝdʒɪvɚˈseɪʃən/. In British English it is /tɜːdʒɪvəˈseɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tergiversation?
Tergiversation has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (SAY). Broken into parts: tur · jih · ver · SAY · shun.
Is tergiversation 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 /tɜːdʒɪvəˈseɪʃən/ (tur-jih-vuh-SAY-shun).