How to pronounce tortuous
Say it like TOR-choo-us. Tortuous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tortuous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TOR
- choo
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tortuous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- chooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tortuous
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TAW-choo-us.
What does tortuous mean?
- Twisted; having many turns; convoluted.
- Oblique; applied to the six signs of the zodiac (from Capricorn to Gemini) that ascend most rapidly and obliquely.
Where does tortuous come from?
From Middle English tortuous, tortuose, from Anglo-Norman and Old French tortuos, from Latin tortuōsus, from tortus (“a twisting, winding”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that sound like tortuous
Questions about saying tortuous
How do you pronounce tortuous?
Say TOR-choo-us. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɔrtʃuəs/. In British English it is /ˈtɔːtʃuːəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tortuous?
Tortuous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOR). Broken into parts: TOR · choo · us.
Is tortuous 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 /ˈtɔːtʃuːəs/ (TAW-choo-us).
What words sound the same as tortuous?
Tortuous sounds the same as torturous in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.