How to pronounce heighten
Say it like HY-tun. Heighten has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce heighten. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HY
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Heighten pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of heighten
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: HY-tun.
What does heighten mean?
- To make high; to raise higher; to elevate.
- To advance, increase, augment, make larger, more intense, stronger etc.“to heighten beauty”
Where does heighten come from?
From Middle English heightenen, hyghtenen, equivalent to height + -en (verbal suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with heighten
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of heighten.
Questions about saying heighten
How do you pronounce heighten?
Say HY-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˈhaɪtən/. In British English it is /ˈhaɪtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in heighten?
Heighten has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HY). Broken into parts: HY · tun.
Is heighten pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈhaɪtən/ (HY-tun).