2 syllables: Tur, quoise. Stress on Tur.
TUR-kwoyz
/ˈtɝkwɔɪz/
Turquoise is pronounced TUR-kwoyz (/ˈtɝkwɔɪz/). It has two syllables (Tur-quoise), with the stress on "Tur". Turquoise is a blue-green mineral used as a gemstone and color name. In everyday use, it denotes a hue that sits between blue and green and evokes the Mediterranean or desert landscapes. As a noun, it also refers to the color itself and, less commonly, to objects of turquoise in tone or material. The word blends precious-metal-era prestige with a vivid natural pigment.
nounTurquoise is a blue-green mineral used as a gemstone and color name. In everyday use, it denotes a hue that sits between blue and green and evokes the Mediterranean or desert landscapes. As a noun, it also refers to the color itself and, less commonly, to objects of turquoise in tone or material. The word blends precious-metal-era prestige with a vivid natural pigment.
- You may over- or under-round the lips on /ɜːr/; aim for a mid-back vowel with light rhotic coloring, not a full /ɜː/ as in 'nurse' alone. - The /ɔɪ/ diphthong can be overdrawn into /ɔː/ or underproduced as /ɪ/; aim for a smooth glide from /ɔ/ to /ɪ/ within a tight, two-syllable rhythm. - Final /z/ must be clearly voiced; some learners drop it to /s/ or devoice; keep voice on the /z/.
"The turquoise necklace glowed under the sun."
"Her eyes flashed like turquoise beads in the light."
"They painted the room in turquoise to create a calm, oceanic feel."
Turquoise is pronounced as /ˈtɜːr.kɔɪz/ in US English and /ˈtɜː.kɔɪz/ in UK/Australian English. The word has two syllables: TUR-quoise, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first vowel in the stressed syllable is a mid-back lax /ɜːr/ (like 'nurse' without a strong r-color in US), and the second syllable uses /kɔɪ/ (like 'coin'). The final /z/ is voiced. Practice saying ‘tur-’ with a rounded, neutral mouth, then glide from /ɔ/ to /ɪ/ in /ɔɪ/ smoothly. Audio reference: say ‘tur’ then ‘koyz’ in quick succession.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (trying to stress the second syllable), pronouncing /ɜː/ as a short /ɜ/ or /ɪ/ sound, and mispronouncing /ɔɪ/ as /oʊ/ or /aɪ/. To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable: TUR-; for /ɜːr/, start with a relaxed tongue mid-back with slight rhotic lip rounding; for /ɔɪ/ glide from an open-mid back rounded /ɔ/ toward a near-front /ɪ/ while keeping the tongue high and the jaw slightly dropped. End with a clear /z/.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈtɜːr.kɔɪz/ with a rhotic /r/ and a slightly longer /ɜːr/. UK and AU accents keep /ˈtɜː.kɔɪz/ but may have less rhotic articulation in some dialects; the /ɔɪ/ diphthong can be more centralized in some UK varieties. Australians often merge or reduce the rhotic quality in non-rhotic contexts, so you might hear a slightly less pronounced /ɹ/ in some speakers. Overall, the crucial elements are the two-syllable structure, the /ɜː/ vowel in the first syllable, and the /ɔɪ/ diphthong in the second, with final /z/.” ,
The difficulty lies in the two distinct phonetic challenges: the stressed /ɜːr/ vowel that can be unfamiliar for non-rhotic listeners and the /ɔɪ/ diphthong that requires a smooth glide from /ɔ/ to /ɪ/. Also, the two-syllable rhythm with a fast linkage between the syllables makes the word less intuitive to segment. Practicing with careful isolation of /ɜːr/ and /ɔɪ/ through minimal pairs helps the mouth adapt to the transition and avoid turning it into /tɜːr.kɔːz/ or /ˈtɜː.sɔɪz/.
A unique feature is the /ɔɪ/ diphthong in the second syllable, which can vary in timing and height between speakers. You’ll want a clear, quick glide from /ɔ/ to /ɪ/ without breaking into a separate vowel or creating an /aɪ/ sound. Additionally, ensure the first syllable has strong, crisp /ɜːr/ with controlled tongue retraction and lip rounding, so the two syllables stay tightly connected in fluent speech.
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- US: emphasize rhotic /ɹ/ after the first syllable; keep /ɜːr/ rounded and resonant. - UK: less rhotic influence; keep /ɜː/ length and a crisper second syllable /kɔɪz/. - AU: often softer rhotics and more centralized diphthong quality; maintain the /ɔɪ/ glide with a bit of fronting toward /ɪ/.
Turquoise comes from the Old French turques (Turkish) via the medieval Latin turquus, ultimately derived from Turkish turchuq or turkuzi meaning “Turkish (stone)” and “Turkish blue.” The coinage entered English in the 17th century as European traders encountered the mineral from mines in present-day Iran and the southwestern regions of Asia. The term reflected the stone’s provenance—often mounted in jewelry by traders who labeled it by its торговые origin rather than its color. Early English texts used phrases like ‘turquois-color’ to describe the gemstone’s characteristic blue-green hue; over time, the word shifted from naming the stone to naming the color itself, paralleling other gemstone-based color terms that became general color descriptors in English. The extension of meaning from a material to a color solidified in fashion and design vocabularies by the 19th and 20th centuries, with turquoise repeatedly invoked as a symbol of exotic luxury and natural vibrancy.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Turquoise" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Turquoise" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Turquoise"
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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