How to pronounce terrain
Say it like tuh-RAYN. Terrain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RAYN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce terrain. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tuh
- RAYN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Terrain pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of terrain
American and British speakers say terrain in essentially the same way: /təˈreɪn/ in the US and /təˈreɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: tuh-RAYN.
What does terrain mean?
- a piece of ground having specific characteristics or military potential“they decided to attack across the rocky terrain”
Where does terrain come from?
Unadapted borrowing from French terrain, from Latin terrenum (“land, ground”), neuter of terrenus (“consisting of earth”), from terra (“earth”).
Words that rhyme with terrain
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of terrain.
Questions about saying terrain
How do you pronounce terrain?
Say tuh-RAYN. The American pronunciation is /təˈreɪn/. In British English it is /təˈreɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in terrain?
Terrain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RAYN). Broken into parts: tuh · RAYN.
Do Americans and Brits say terrain the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /təˈreɪn/ and the British form is /təˈreɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.