How to pronounce hibernate
Say it like HY-ber-nayt. Hibernate has three 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 hibernate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HY
- ber
- nayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hibernate 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.
- berKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- naytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of hibernate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HY-buh-nayt.
What does hibernate mean?
- To spend the winter in a dormant or inactive state of minimal activity, low body temperature, slow breathing and heart rate, and low metabolic rate; to go through a winter sleep.“Hedgehogs and bears are two of the many mammals that hibernate in winter.”
- To live in seclusion.
- To enter a standby state which conserves power without losing the contents of memory.
Where does hibernate come from?
Borrowed from Latin hībernātus, perfect passive participle of hībernō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from hībernus (“wintry”).
Questions about saying hibernate
How do you pronounce hibernate?
Say HY-ber-nayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈhaɪbərˌneɪt/. In British English it is /ˈhaɪbəˌneɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hibernate?
Hibernate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HY). Broken into parts: HY · ber · nayt.
Is hibernate 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 /ˈhaɪbəˌneɪt/ (HY-buh-nayt).