How to pronounce hircine
Say it like HUR-syne. Hircine has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hircine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HUR
- syne
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hircine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- syneKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of hircine
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HUR-syne.
What does hircine mean?
- Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of goats.
- Possessed of an odor reminiscent of goats.
- Libidinous; lustful.
- A fossil amorphous resin which, when burnt, gives off a pungent, hircinous aroma.
Where does hircine come from?
First attested in its present form in 1650–1660: From Middle English hircyne, from Latin hircīnus (“of a goat”, “goat-scented”); equivalent to hircus (“a male goat”) + -īnus (“-ine”).
Questions about saying hircine
How do you pronounce hircine?
Say HUR-syne. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɝsaɪn/. In British English it is /ˈhɜːsaɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hircine?
Hircine has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HUR). Broken into parts: HUR · syne.
Is hircine 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 /ˈhɜːsaɪn/ (HUR-syne).