How to pronounce terne
Say it like TURN. Terne 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 terne. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TURN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Terne pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TURNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of terne
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TURN.
What does terne mean?
- Colourless, drab, dull.
- An alloy coating made of lead and tin (or, more recently, zinc and tin), often with some antimony, used to cover iron or steel.
- Synonym of terneplate (“thin iron or steel sheeting coated with this alloy”).
Where does terne come from?
Borrowed from French terne, from Middle French, from Old French terne (“dim, dull”), from Frankish *darnī (“concealed, hidden; secret”); further etymology unknown, perhaps related to Proto-West Germanic *derk (“dark; dirty”), perhaps ultima
Words that rhyme with terne
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of terne.
Words that sound like terne
Questions about saying terne
How do you pronounce terne?
Say TURN. The American pronunciation is /tɝn/. In British English it is /tɜːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in terne?
Terne is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TURN.
Is terne 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 /tɜːn/ (TURN).
What words sound the same as terne?
Terne sounds the same as tern, turn in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.