How to pronounce heckuva
Say it like heh-KYOO-vuh. Heckuva has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KYOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce heckuva. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- heh
- KYOO
- vuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Heckuva pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- hehKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- KYOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- vuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of heckuva
American and British speakers say heckuva in essentially the same way: /hɛˈkjuvə/ in the US and /hɛˈkjuːvə/ in the UK.
British respelling: heh-KYOO-vuh.
Other ways to say heckuva
Heckuva also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- HEK-uh-vuh /ˈhɛkəvə/
What does heckuva mean?
- Heck of a; extreme.“They had a heckuva row over where to spend the weekend.”
Where does heckuva come from?
Written form of a reduction of heck of a.
Questions about saying heckuva
How do you pronounce heckuva?
Say heh-KYOO-vuh. The American pronunciation is /hɛˈkjuvə/. In British English it is /hɛˈkjuːvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in heckuva?
Heckuva has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KYOO). Broken into parts: heh · KYOO · vuh.
Do Americans and Brits say heckuva the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /hɛˈkjuvə/ and the British form is /hɛˈkjuːvə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.