How to pronounce hairpin
Say it like HEH-er-pin. Hairpin has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HEH).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hairpin. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈhɛɚpɪn/HEH-er-pin
UK British/ˈhɛəpɪn/HAIR-pin
- HEH
- er
- pin
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hairpin pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HEHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- pinKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of hairpin
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAIR-pin.
What does hairpin mean?
noun
- A pin or fastener for the hair.
- A kind of ribozyme; hairpin ribozyme.
- A very tight bend in a road; a hairpin bend.
Where does hairpin come from?
From hair + pin, 1788 (as hair pin).
Questions about saying hairpin
How do you pronounce hairpin?
Say HEH-er-pin. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɛɚpɪn/. In British English it is /ˈhɛəpɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hairpin?
Hairpin has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HEH). Broken into parts: HEH · er · pin.
Is hairpin pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2. The British form is /ˈhɛəpɪn/ (HAIR-pin).