How to pronounce traverse
Say it like truh-VURS. Traverse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VURS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce traverse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- truh
- VURS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Traverse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- truhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VURSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of traverse
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: truh-VURS.
Other ways to say traverse
Traverse also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- TRAV-ers /ˈtrævɚs/
What does traverse mean?
- To travel across, to go through, to pass through, particularly under difficult conditions.“He will have to traverse the mountain to get to the other side.”
- To visit all parts of; to explore thoroughly.“to traverse all nodes in a network”
- To lay in a cross direction; to cross.
- A route used in mountaineering, specifically rock climbing, in which the descent occurs by a different route than the ascent.
- A series of points, with angles and distances measured between, traveled around a subject, usually for use as "control" i.e. angular reference system for later surveying work.
- Something that thwarts or obstructs.“He will succeed, as long as there are no unlucky traverses not under his control.”
- athwart; across; crosswise
Where does traverse come from?
From Middle English traversen, from Old French traverser, from Latin trans (“across”) + versus (“turned”), perfect passive participle of Latin vertere (“to turn”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with traverse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of traverse.
Questions about saying traverse
How do you pronounce traverse?
Say truh-VURS. The American pronunciation is /trəˈvɝs/. In British English it is /trəˈvɜːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in traverse?
Traverse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VURS). Broken into parts: truh · VURS.
Is traverse 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 /trəˈvɜːs/ (truh-VURS).