How to pronounce terrified
Say it like TER-uh-fyde. Terrified has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce terrified. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TER
- uh
- fyde
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Terrified pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- fydeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of terrified
American and British speakers say terrified in essentially the same way: /ˈtɛrəˌfaɪd/ in the US and /ˈtɛrɪˌfaɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: TER-ih-fyde.
What does terrified mean?
- thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation“became panicky as the snow deepened”“felt panicked before each exam”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with terrified
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of terrified.
Questions about saying terrified
How do you pronounce terrified?
Say TER-uh-fyde. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛrəˌfaɪd/. In British English it is /ˈtɛrɪˌfaɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in terrified?
Terrified has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TER). Broken into parts: TER · uh · fyde.
Do Americans and Brits say terrified the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtɛrəˌfaɪd/ and the British form is /ˈtɛrɪˌfaɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.