How to pronounce hereditary
Say it like huh-RED-uh-ter-ee. Hereditary has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hereditary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- huh
- RED
- uh
- ter
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hereditary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- huhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- REDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- terGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of hereditary
American and British speakers say hereditary in essentially the same way: /həˈrɛdəˌtɛri/ in the US and /həˈrɛdɪtəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: huh-RED-ih-tuh-ree.
What does hereditary mean?
- Passed on as an inheritance, by last will or intestate.
- Of a title, honor or right: legally granted to somebody's descendant after that person's death.“Duke is a hereditary title which was created in Norman times.”
- Of a person: holding a legally hereditary title or rank.“hereditary rulers”
- A hereditary ruler; a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.
Where does hereditary come from?
Inherited from Middle English hereditarie, from Latin hērēditārius, from hērēditās (“inheritance”), from hērēs (“heir”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying hereditary
How do you pronounce hereditary?
Say huh-RED-uh-ter-ee. The American pronunciation is /həˈrɛdəˌtɛri/. In British English it is /həˈrɛdɪtəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hereditary?
Hereditary has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RED). Broken into parts: huh · RED · uh · ter · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say hereditary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /həˈrɛdəˌtɛri/ and the British form is /həˈrɛdɪtəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.