How to Pronounce Tern

To pronounce "tern", say TERN — one syllable, IPA /tɜːn/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

tern

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Accent

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/tɜːn/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “tern”

"tern" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat.

What does tern mean?

noun

  1. Any of various sea birds of the family Sternidae that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail.

Hear “tern” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Related words

scraysternetriadternesternidsternstarling

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "tern"?▾

"Tern" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "tern"?▾

The IPA transcription of "tern" is /tɜːn/.

What does "tern" mean?▾

Tern: Any of various sea birds of the family Sternidae that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail.

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