TER-urz
/ˈtɛɹɚz/
terrors is pronounced TER-urz (/ˈtɛɹɚz/). Terrors refers to intense causes for alarm or dread, such as frightening events or situations that provoke strong fear or anxiety. In plural form, it can describe multiple frightening things or phenomena. The term is commonly used in news, literature, and everyday speech to convey a sense of overwhelming fear or danger.
Terrors refers to intense causes for alarm or dread, such as frightening events or situations that provoke strong fear or anxiety. In plural form, it can describe multiple frightening things or phenomena. The term is commonly used in news, literature, and everyday speech to convey a sense of overwhelming fear or danger.
"The terrors of the storm kept the town indoors all night."
"Historians discussed the terrors of war and its long-lasting impact on civilians."
"The newscast highlighted the terrors faced by refugees fleeing conflict."
Pronounce as two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈtɛr.ərz/. Start with a clear /t/ followed by an open /ɛ/ as in 'bed', then a light /r/ before a schwa /ə/ in unstressed position, and end with a voiced /z/. In careful speech, avoid reducing the first syllable too much; in fast speech, the /r/ can be slightly darker and the vowel reduced.
Common errors include: 1) De-classicalized vowel: using a lax /ɪ/ in the first syllable instead of /ɛ/ (TER-ers). 2) Final consonant mispronounced as /s/ instead of /z/; since the second syllable ends with a voiced /z/, avoid making it voiceless. 3) Dropping the second syllable or reducing it to a schwa without the /ɹ/; ensure a light rhotic-tinge before the final /z/. Practice with minimal pairs to fix these.
In US, /ˈtɛr.ɚz/ with rhotic /r/ and a slightly reduced second syllable; the second vowel is a schwa. UK often features /ˈtɛr.əz/, with a shorter, less pronounced /ɚ/ and a more open /ə/ in non-rhotic accents; however, most UK accents still voice the final /z/. Australian English tends toward /ˈtɛɹ.əz/ with a rhotic-like r in careful speech and a slightly higher, more centralized vowel in the second syllable. IPA transcriptions illustrate these subtle vowel qualities and rhotic presence.
The challenge lies in transitioning from an open front vowel to a mid-centralized schwa before a voiced fricative, combined with correct voicing of the final /z/. The /r/ can complicate syllable rhythm depending on dialect: US /ˈtɜr.ɚz/ prefers a clear /r/ linking, while UK non-rhotic varieties reduce /r/ preconsonantal positions. Also, keeping stress on the first syllable while maintaining smooth syllable transition requires precise timing and tongue posture.
Yes—the final /z/ is voiced, not voiceless; many learners default to /s/, which makes it sound like ‘terrors’ with a hiss rather than a voiced buzz. Ensure the vocal folds vibrate for the /z/. Also, the second syllable contains a reduced vowel; keep it short but not swallowed, so the word stays two clear syllables rather than a rapid, indistinct ending.
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Terrors comes from Middle English terror, borrowed from Old French terror, which itself derives from Latin terro - meaning fright, fear, or alarm. The Latin root terrore is associated with a feeling of sudden fear or shock and is related to words like terrify and terrorize; however, the English plural terrors shifts to refer to multiple instances or sources of fear rather than a singular state. The sense of “causes of fear” broadened in English over time, moving from a general emotion to identifiable frightening things or events. By the 14th-15th centuries, terror as a concept appeared in religious and political discourse (as in “the terrors of sin” or “the terrors of invasion”). The modern plural terrors appears in literary and journalistic usage to discuss multiple frightening phenomena, from natural disasters to violent events. first known use of the plural form appears in early modern English texts, but precise earliest citation varies across literary archives. Over centuries, the word maintains a strong emotional charge, often paired with adjectives like “great,” “grave,” or “inner” to emphasize intensity.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "terrors" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "terrors"
-ows sounds
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