How to Pronounce Terse

To pronounce "terse", say TERS-e — 2 syllables, IPA /tɝːs/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

terse

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying terse, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

2

Syllables

5

Letters

/tɝːs/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “terse”

"terse" has 2 syllables: ters-e. It rhymes with coerce and diverse, if that helps it stick.

What does terse mean?

adjective

  1. (by extension) Of speech or style: brief, concise, to the point.
  2. (by extension) Of manner or speech: abruptly or brusquely short; curt.

Synonyms

abruptbrusquemardyshort-spokenconcisesuccinct

Antonyms

prolixverbosewordy

Hear “terse” in real sentences

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

Words that rhyme with terse

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

coercediverseinverseperverseadversedispersecurseverseimmerseaversepursereverse

Related words

laconicconcisecurtcrispsuccinctsummarycompendiousbrief

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "terse"?▾

"Terse" has 2 syllables: ters · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "terse"?▾

The IPA transcription of "terse" is /tɝːs/.

What does "terse" mean?▾

Terse: (by extension) Of speech or style: brief, concise, to the point.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “terse” in the full dictionary →