How to pronounce hereafter
Say it like hih-RAF-ter. Hereafter has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RAF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hereafter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- hih
- RAF
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hereafter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- hihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- RAFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of hereafter
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: heer-RAHF-tuh.
What does hereafter mean?
- From now on.
- Sequentially after this point (in time, in the writing constituting a document, in the movement along a path, etc.)
- In time to come; in some future time or state.
- A future existence or state.
- Existence after death.
Where does hereafter come from?
From Old English hēræfter (“in the aftertime; later on”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- henceforth
- hereinafter
- hereunder
Words that rhyme with hereafter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hereafter.
Questions about saying hereafter
How do you pronounce hereafter?
Say hih-RAF-ter. The American pronunciation is /hɪˈræftɚ/. In British English it is /hɪəˈrɑːftə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hereafter?
Hereafter has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RAF). Broken into parts: hih · RAF · ter.
Is hereafter pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /hɪəˈrɑːftə/ (heer-RAHF-tuh).