How to pronounce terror
Say it like TER-er. Terror has two 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 terror. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TER
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Terror 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.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of terror
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TER-uh.
What does terror mean?
- an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
- a person who inspires fear or dread“he was the terror of the neighborhood”
- a very troublesome child
Where does terror come from?
From late Middle English terrour, from Old French terreur f (“terror, fear, dread”), from Latin terror (“fright, fear, terror”), from terrēre (“to frighten, terrify”), from Old Latin tr̥reō, from Proto-Italic *trozeō, from Proto-Indo-Europe
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with terror
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of terror.
Questions about saying terror
How do you pronounce terror?
Say TER-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛrɚ/. In British English it is /ˈtɛrə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in terror?
Terror has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TER). Broken into parts: TER · er.
Is terror 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 /ˈtɛrə/ (TER-uh).