3 syllables: Tem, per, a. Stress on Tem.
TEM-pur-uh
/ˈtɛm.pɚ.ə/
Tempera is pronounced TEM-pur-uh (/ˈtɛm.pɚ.ə/). It has three syllables (Tem-per-a), with the stress on "Tem". Tempera is a paint made by mixing colored pigments with a water-soluble binder, typically egg yolk, used historically in panel paintings. It yields a fast-drying, matte film with a luminous but delicate color. Commonly contrasted with oils, it requires thin layers and careful tempering for color stability and longevity.
nounTempera is a paint made by mixing colored pigments with a water-soluble binder, typically egg yolk, used historically in panel paintings. It yields a fast-drying, matte film with a luminous but delicate color. Commonly contrasted with oils, it requires thin layers and careful tempering for color stability and longevity.
How to Pronounce Tempera
"The artist chose tempera for the delicate glaze of the portrait."
"Tempera dries quickly, so you must work in small sections."
"Medieval painters frequently used tempera before the advent of oils."
Pronounce it as /təˈmɛpərə/ in most US/UK contexts (stress on the second syllable). In American speech, the initial syllable is unstressed with a schwa, followed by a stressed /ˈmɛ/ and then an unstressed /pə/ and final schwa. In UK/Australian varieties, you may hear /təˈmɛp(ə)rə/ with a slightly clearer /ɛ/ in the second syllable. Practice by separating into tem- and -pera, then blend quickly while keeping the second syllable clearly stressed. IPA: US /təˈmɛpərə/, UK /təˈmɛpərə/, AU /təˈmɛpərə/.
Two common errors: (1) stressing the first syllable (tem- rather than tem- with stress on the second). (2) Pronouncing the second vowel as a full /eɪ/ or misplacing the 'p' sound, like /ˈtempera/ or /təˈmepəra/. Correction: keep the second syllable sharply stressed /ˈmɛ/ and reduce the first to a quick schwa /tə/. Ensure the /p/ is a clean, aspirated stop, not merged with the following vowel.
In US, /təˈmɛpərə/ with rhotic accent, the final schwa is typical. UK: /təˈmɛpərə/ with non-rhotic tendency but often similar vowels; Australian: /təˈmɛpərə/ with broader vowel quality in the second syllable and slight vowel flattening; the /r/ is typically not pronounced in non-rhotic varieties, so the final syllable may be weaker. Overall stress pattern remains on the second syllable in all: tem-EP-ruh.
The challenge lies in the diphthong-like quality of the unstressed first syllable and the crisp /p/ consonant before the final schwa. Also, the vowel in the second syllable /ɛ/ requires an open-mid front position; people often mispronounce it as /eɪ/ or /e/ when the tongue is too high. Keeping the unstressed first syllable reduced, and clearly articulating the /p/ can significantly improve accuracy.
A distinctive feature is maintaining the short, open vowel in the second syllable /ˈmɛ/ and avoiding a trailing /ə/ into a longer vowel. The word’s final syllable reduces to a short /rə/ or /rə/ with a soft schwa, especially in faster speech. The nuance is balancing tempo: quick tempo can blur the /p/ before the final vowel, so precise timing of the stop and subsequent vowel matters.
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Tempera originates from the Italian word tempera meaning “to temper, mix, or blend.” The term arose in the context of painting techniques where pigments were mixed with a binder like egg yolk to create a fast-drying paint. Its linguistic roots trace to Latin temperare meaning to mix, temper, or regulate, and to Greek temnō meaning to cut or portion. The English borrowing tempera appears in the late medieval/early modern period, reflecting the shift from medieval panel painting primers to panel and manuscript illumination techniques. In art history, “egg tempera” is the contrasted technique to oil painting and is often described as tempera on panel. The first documented use in art literature emerges in early Renaissance records, with its practice documented in Italian artist workshops in the 14th–15th centuries. Over time, the method spread to Northern Europe and beyond, maintaining popularity for its precise detail and color tuning in book illumination and altarpieces. The term itself has become specialized, rarely used outside art-conservation and historical painting contexts, but continues to evoke a distinctive, luminous color quality tied to the egg binder and mineral pigments.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Tempera" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Tempera"
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