Skip to content
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

taciturn

/ˈtæs.ɪˌtɝn/

Press play to hear how to pronounce taciturn.

American Pronunciation Guide · 0:39
Watch on YouTube ↗
LISTEN FOR THIS

TASS-ih-turn: the c sounds like s.

In TASS-ih-turn, the first syllable takes the main stress. The final turn has an r-colored vowel and a smaller beat.

TRY SAYING
Our usually taciturn neighbor told a long story.

APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

What does taciturn mean?

adjective

  1. Silent; temperamentally untalkative; disinclined to speak.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈtæs.ɪˌtɝn/

Pronunciation used in the listening tip.

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Where before had he seen that giant figure, that taciturn countenance, and the livid sword-cut from temple to mouth?
Edgar Rice BurroughsThuvia, maid of MarsProject Gutenberg ebook #72
His companion, Alberto, was of quite a different disposition, being extremely taciturn, and going through all his duties with the quietest regularity.
Henry Walter BatesThe Naturalist on the River AmazonsProject Gutenberg ebook #2440
More book examples (3)
All that day and the next and the next Holmes was in a mood which his friends would call taciturn, and others morose.
Arthur Conan DoyleThe Return of Sherlock HolmesProject Gutenberg ebook #108
The count ordered his carriage that he might drive to Sokólniki, and sat in his study with folded hands, morose, sallow, and taciturn.
Leo, graf TolstoyWar and PeaceTranslated by Aylmer Maude; Louise MaudeProject Gutenberg ebook #2600
No message had come to explain his absence, and Mr. Royall, who was more than usually taciturn, had betrayed no surprise, and made no comment.
Edith WhartonSummerProject Gutenberg ebook #166