TEM-pawr
/ˈtɛmpɔɹ/
tempore is pronounced TEM-pawr (/ˈtɛmpɔɹ/). Tempore is a Latin-derived adverb meaning 'at that time' or 'for that time,' often used in legal, historical, or classical contexts to reference the moment previously mentioned or to indicate timing within a narrative. It can also appear in scholarly phrases and mottoes, preserving a formal, timeless tone. In pronunciation practice, it is treated as a foreign term adapted into English usage.
Tempore is a Latin-derived adverb meaning 'at that time' or 'for that time,' often used in legal, historical, or classical contexts to reference the moment previously mentioned or to indicate timing within a narrative. It can also appear in scholarly phrases and mottoes, preserving a formal, timeless tone. In pronunciation practice, it is treated as a foreign term adapted into English usage.
"The clause pertained tempore, indicating the condition existed at that moment."
"In the manuscript, tempus was referenced tempore to mark the era of writing."
"The historian wrote temporally, noting events tempus quo they occurred."
Pronounce as TEM-po-re with three syllables and primary stress on the first: /ˈtɛm.pɔːr/ in US rhotic accents; UK/AU typically /ˈtem.pɔː/. The middle vowel is a rounded back vowel like 'paw' in /ɔː/. The final 're' is pronounced as a rhotics-friendly 'or' in rhotic accents, while non-rhotic vos may slightly reduce the final r. Keep the lips rounded for the /ɔː/ and avoid adding a schwa. Practice by saying tempo with a slight pause then closer to ‘re’ as in ‘more’.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the second syllable (tem-PORE) instead of TEM-po-re; 2) Reducing the middle /ɔː/ to a short /ɔ/ or /ə/; 3) Over-articulating the final 're' as /ri/ or dropping the r in non-rhotic speakers. Correction tips: maintain 3 crisp syllables with primary stress on the first, keep /ɔː/ long and rounded, and either realize /r/ in rhotic contexts or let it be silent in non-rhotic contexts without obscuring the middle vowel. Use a slow, deliberate tempo during practice to keep vowels distinct.
In US rhotic speech you’ll hear /ˈtɛm.pɔːr/, with an audible /r/ at the end and a longer /ɔː/. UK/AU varieties generally use /ˈtem.pɔː/ with a similarly long /ɔː/ and an optional post-vocalic /r/ soft or non-rhotic depending on speaker. Non-rhotic speakers in some UK dialects may drop the /r/, giving a closer /ˈtem.pɔː/. In Australian speech, the vowel may be more centralized and the /r/ often non-rhotic. Overall, ensure your middle /ɔː/ quality and vowel length reflect regionally appropriate rhoticity.
Tempore blends a Latin three-syllable structure into English pronunciation. The challenge lies in maintaining a clear first-syllable stress, producing a long mid vowel /ɔː/ that’s not typical in many English words, and managing a final /r/ sound in rhotic accents or the subtle trailing vowel in non-rhotic accents. Additionally, the three-consonant onset cluster with a rounded middle vowel can trip learners who expect English-like simplifications. Focus on three distinct syllables with precise mouth positions to avoid blending.
Unique to tempore is the contrast between the open fronted vowel in the first syllable and the rounded back vowel in the second; the final ‘re’ is not a heavy consonant cluster but a soft, trailing vowel-plus-r. A useful cue is to say 'TEM' as in tempo, then glide into a rounded 'or' sound for the final syllable. Visualize your lips rounding for the /ɔː/ and keep the jaw slightly dropped for the first syllable, then raise the soft palate to ease the final r.
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Tempore originates from Latin tempore, ablative form of tempus (time). Latin tempus derives from a Proto-Italic root *tempus, linked to Ancient Greek χρόνος (chronos) in the broader Indo-European time-word family. In classical Latin, tempore functions as an ablative of time when used with prepositions like in or ex, meaning ‘at the time of.’ The term entered English through scholarly and legal usage as Latin phrases were adopted into medieval and early modern scholarship, retaining a formal, juridical tone. In the phrase ad tempus or tempus, tempus was sometimes used in fixed expressions to indicate timing or moment. Throughout history, tempore has maintained its sense of specificity about a precise moment in time, particularly in translation of Latin legal, historical, or ecclesiastical texts. The first known English attestations appear in scholastic Latin borrowings and Latin legal prose of the late medieval period, where Latin forms were used to convey precision and authority. Over time, tempore has sometimes appeared as a pseudo-Latin or stylistic flourish in English prose to evoke antiquity or formality. In modern English contexts, it largely retains a Latin flavor and is used sparingly, typically in academic, legal, or classical discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "tempore"
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