How to pronounce heterocercal
Say it like het-uh-roh-SUR-kul. Heterocercal has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (SUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce heterocercal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- het
- uh
- roh
- SUR
- kul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Heterocercal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- hetGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- SURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- kulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of heterocercal
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: het-uh-roh-SUR-kul.
What does heterocercal mean?
- Of a fish's tail, such that the vertebral column bends and extends upwards into the upper lobe of the tail, making it larger than the lower lobe; as in sharks, rays, and skates.
Where does heterocercal come from?
From hetero- + cercal.
Words that rhyme with heterocercal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of heterocercal.
Questions about saying heterocercal
How do you pronounce heterocercal?
Say het-uh-roh-SUR-kul. The American pronunciation is /ˌhɛtəroʊˈsɝkəl/. In British English it is /ˌhɛtərəʊˈsɜːkəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in heterocercal?
Heterocercal has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (SUR). Broken into parts: het · uh · roh · SUR · kul.
Is heterocercal 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 /ˌhɛtərəʊˈsɜːkəl/ (het-uh-roh-SUR-kul).