How to pronounce terse
Say it like TURS. Terse 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 terse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TURS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Terse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TURSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of terse
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TURS.
What does terse mean?
- Of speech or style: brief, concise, to the point.
- Of manner or speech: abruptly or brusquely short; curt.
Where does terse come from?
From Latin tersus (“clean, cleansed, rubbed or wiped off; neat, spruce; terse”), perfect passive participle of Latin tergeō, tergō (“to clean, cleanse, rub, wipe, wipe off”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with terse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of terse.
Questions about saying terse
How do you pronounce terse?
Say TURS. The American pronunciation is /tɝs/. In British English it is /tɜːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in terse?
Terse is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TURS.
Is terse 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 /tɜːs/ (TURS).