How to pronounce tertiary
Say it like TUR-shuh-ree. Tertiary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tertiary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TUR
- shuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tertiary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- shuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of tertiary
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 4.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TUR-shee-uh-ree.
What does tertiary mean?
- from 63 million to 2 million years ago
- coming next after the second and just before the fourth in position
Where does tertiary come from?
Borrowed from the Latin tertiārius (“of the third part or rank”), from tertius (“third”) (from Proto-Indo-European *tr̥tyós, whence English third) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary); compare the French tertiaire.
Questions about saying tertiary
How do you pronounce tertiary?
Say TUR-shuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɝʃəri/. In British English it is /ˈtɜːʃiəriː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tertiary?
Tertiary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TUR). Broken into parts: TUR · shuh · ree.
Is tertiary pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 4. The British form is /ˈtɜːʃiəriː/ (TUR-shee-uh-ree).