How to pronounce terrific
Say it like tuh-RIF-ik. Terrific has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RIF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce terrific. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tuh
- RIF
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Terrific 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.
- RIFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of terrific
American and British speakers say terrific in essentially the same way: /təˈrɪfɪk/ in the US and /təˈrɪfɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: tuh-RIF-ik.
What does terrific mean?
- very great or intense“a terrific noise”“a terrific thunderstorm storm”
- extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers“a fantastic trip to the Orient”“the film was fantastic!”
- causing extreme terror“a terrifying wail”
Where does terrific come from?
The sense of excellent or amazing is an ameliorative semantic shift from the original sense of terrifying.
Words that rhyme with terrific
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of terrific.
Questions about saying terrific
How do you pronounce terrific?
Say tuh-RIF-ik. The American pronunciation is /təˈrɪfɪk/. In British English it is /təˈrɪfɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in terrific?
Terrific has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RIF). Broken into parts: tuh · RIF · ik.
Do Americans and Brits say terrific the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /təˈrɪfɪk/ and the British form is /təˈrɪfɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.