The phrase "wert tense" is spelled with an archaic verb conjugation of "be" and the past tense suffix "-t" in English. Phonetically, it is pronounced /wɜːrt tɛns/. The first syllable is pronounced with the "u" sound as in "fur" and the second syllable has a short "e" sound as in "when". The "t" at the end of "wert" is pronounced with a light aspiration, while the "s" in "tense" has a clear sibilant sound.