How to pronounce hitchhike
Say it like HICH-hyke. Hitchhike has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HICH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hitchhike. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HICH
- hyke
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hitchhike pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HICHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- hykeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of hitchhike
American and British speakers say hitchhike in essentially the same way: /ˈhɪtʃˌhaɪk/ in the US and /ˈhɪtʃˌhaɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: HICH-hyke.
What does hitchhike mean?
- To try to get a ride in a passing vehicle while standing at the side of a road, generally by either sticking out one's finger or thumb or holding a sign with one's stated destination.
- To try to get (a ride) in this manner.“Pamela hitchhiked a ride to New York.”
- To be carried along with something else.“In genetic hitchhiking, a gene is propagated because it occurs in conjunction with a favorable mutation.”
- A journey made by hitchhiking.
- Alternative form of hitchhiker (“advertisement at the end of a programme”).
Where does hitchhike come from?
From hitch + hike.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying hitchhike
How do you pronounce hitchhike?
Say HICH-hyke. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɪtʃˌhaɪk/. In British English it is /ˈhɪtʃˌhaɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hitchhike?
Hitchhike has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HICH). Broken into parts: HICH · hyke.
Do Americans and Brits say hitchhike the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhɪtʃˌhaɪk/ and the British form is /ˈhɪtʃˌhaɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.