How to pronounce hijack
Say it like HY-jak. Hijack 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 hijack. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HY
- jak
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hijack 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.
- jakGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of hijack
American and British speakers say hijack in essentially the same way: /ˈhaɪˌdʒæk/ in the US and /ˈhaɪdʒæk/ in the UK.
British respelling: HY-jak.
What does hijack mean?
- To forcibly seize control of some vehicle in order to rob it or to reach a destination (especially an airplane, truck or a boat).
- To seize control of some process or resource to achieve a purpose other than its originally intended one.“hijack the radio show”
- To introduce an amendment deleting the contents of a bill and inserting entirely new provisions.
- An instance of hijacking; the illegal seizure of a vehicle; a hijacking.
- An instance of a seizure and redirection of a process.
- An amendment which deletes the contents of a bill and inserts entirely new provisions.
Where does hijack come from?
Possibly from a blend of highway + jacker (“one who holds up”) (1915).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying hijack
How do you pronounce hijack?
Say HY-jak. The American pronunciation is /ˈhaɪˌdʒæk/. In British English it is /ˈhaɪdʒæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hijack?
Hijack has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HY). Broken into parts: HY · jak.
Do Americans and Brits say hijack the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhaɪˌdʒæk/ and the British form is /ˈhaɪdʒæk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.