2 syllables: Tar, tar. Stress on Tar.
TAHR-tur
/ˈtɑɹtɚ/
Tartar is pronounced TAHR-tur (/ˈtɑɹtɚ/). It has two syllables (Tar-tar), with the stress on "Tar". Tartar is a noun with multiple senses: historically, a person of fierce or intractable temper; in medicine or dentistry, a hard dental calculus that forms on teeth; and in culinary contexts, a sauce or relish prepared with chopped ingredients. The term can also refer to any person perceived as harsh or stubborn, and in cosmetics or archaeology contexts, to a dull gray mineral deposit. It comprises two syllables with the stress typically on the first: TAR-tar.
nounTartar is a noun with multiple senses: historically, a person of fierce or intractable temper; in medicine or dentistry, a hard dental calculus that forms on teeth; and in culinary contexts, a sauce or relish prepared with chopped ingredients. The term can also refer to any person perceived as harsh or stubborn, and in cosmetics or archaeology contexts, to a dull gray mineral deposit. It comprises two syllables with the stress typically on the first: TAR-tar.
How to Pronounce Tartar
"The argument escalated quickly; he was a real tartar when cornered."
"Dental hygiene reveals heavy tartar buildup that requires professional cleaning."
"The chef prepared a spicy tartar sauce to accompany the fish."
You pronounce it TAR-tar with the primary stress on the first syllable. In American and British English, typical IPA is /ˈtɑːr.tər/ (US) and /ˈtɑː.tə/ (UK), reflecting a slightly shorter second vowel in some UK varieties. For reference, imagine saying ‘tar’ as in tar, followed by a light, unstressed ‘ter’ or ‘tuh’ depending on accent. Listen to native pronunciations via Pronounce or Forvo to capture subtle vowel length differences.
Common errors include stressing the second syllable (tar-TAR) or mispronouncing the first vowel as a short ‘a’ like in cat. Another frequent slip is turning the second syllable into a rounded ‘ter’ with a strong schwa that sounds like ’tar-tər’ in some American accents; keep the second vowel as a short, near-unstressed /ər/ rather than a full vowel. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize /ˈtɑːr/ and /tər/.
In US English, /ˈtɑːr.tər/ with rhotic /r/ in both syllables; the second syllable often reduces to /-tɚ/ in casual speech. UK English tends to reduce the second syllable more, yielding /ˈtɑː.tə/ with a weaker, unstressed second vowel and less pronounced rhoticity. Australian English is similar to UK in vowel quality but may retain a slightly more rounded /ɜː/ or /ə/ in the second syllable depending on speaker. IPA references help track these subtleties: US /ˈtɑɹ.tɚ/; UK /ˈtɑː.tə/; AU /ˈtɑː.tə/.
The challenge lies in the unstressed second syllable /-tər/ versus a fully enunciated second syllable in some speakers; mastering the rhotacized or reduced final depends on accent. The contrast between /ˈtɑːr/ and /ˈtɑːtə/ requires precise tongue positioning: root vowel /ɑː/ is back and low, then a quick, relaxed schwa or schwar sound in the second syllable. People often over-articulate /ər/ or merge it with /ə/. Practice with short sentences to stabilize rhythm and reduction.
In careful speech, the first syllable remains full /ˈtɑːr/ to convey the meaning clearly; however, in fast, casual speech some speakers slightly reduce the second syllable but keep the initial strong syllable. The key is to hold the /ɑː/ vowel long enough to distinguish from other similar words like tar and tare. Use slow practice then speed up to natural tempo while maintaining the contrast between the two syllables.
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Tartar comes from Middle English tartar, borrowed from Old French taretard or tarter, ultimately tracing to Late Latin taratorius, meaning 'stubborn, rapacious'. The word likely derives from a Germanic root associated with toughness or ferocity, evolving through medieval European languages to describe both a rough, stubborn person and, later, mineral residues resembling rough, stubborn deposits. The sense relating to the dental calculus comes from the hard, crusty nature of tartar that forms on teeth, with the term being adopted by 17th- to 19th-century medical and dental texts. In culinary use, tartar sauce appears in English by the 19th century, with ‘tartar’ signifying a style of chopped, raw-forward preparation reminiscent of the Tartars or Tatars of Central Asia—reflecting a historical tendency to apply exotic geographic labels to foods and sauces. First known use in English appears in the 14th–15th centuries in the sense of a fierce or stubborn person; the mineral/calculus sense is attested by the 17th century; the culinary term follows later, consolidating by the 19th century.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Tartar" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Tartar" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Tartar"
-tar sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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