How to pronounce tumescence
Say it like tyoo-MES-uns. Tumescence has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tumescence. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tyoo
- MES
- uns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tumescence pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tyooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- MESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- unsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tumescence
American and British speakers say tumescence in essentially the same way: /tjuˈmɛsəns/ in the US and /tjuːˈmɛsəns/ in the UK.
British respelling: tyoo-MES-uns.
What does tumescence mean?
- A swelling due to the presence of fluid.
- A swollen bodily organ; used especially of erectile tissue.
Where does tumescence come from?
First attested 1725, from French tumescence, from Latin tumescēns (“swelling”), present participle of tumēscō (“to begin to swell”), from tumeō (“to swell”) + -ēscō (incohative suffix) (English -esce, in this form -escence), stem from Proto
Words that rhyme with tumescence
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tumescence.
- essence
- adolescence
- fluorescence
- obsolescence
- inflorescence
- luminescence
- senescence
- acquiescence
- convalescence
- evanescence
Questions about saying tumescence
How do you pronounce tumescence?
Say tyoo-MES-uns. The American pronunciation is /tjuˈmɛsəns/. In British English it is /tjuːˈmɛsəns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tumescence?
Tumescence has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MES). Broken into parts: tyoo · MES · uns.
Do Americans and Brits say tumescence the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tjuˈmɛsəns/ and the British form is /tjuːˈmɛsəns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.