How to pronounce hyena
Say it like hy-EE-nuh. Hyena has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hyena. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- hy
- EE
- nuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hyena pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- hyKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- EESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of hyena
American and British speakers say hyena in essentially the same way: /haɪˈinə/ in the US and /haɪˈiːnə/ in the UK.
British respelling: hy-EE-nuh.
What does hyena mean?
- Any of the medium-sized to large feliform carnivores of the family Hyaenidae, native to Africa and Asia and noted for the sound similar to laughter which they can make if excited.
- A man that performs ritualized sex acts with recently widowed women and menarchal girls.
Words that rhyme with hyena
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hyena.
Questions about saying hyena
How do you pronounce hyena?
Say hy-EE-nuh. The American pronunciation is /haɪˈinə/. In British English it is /haɪˈiːnə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hyena?
Hyena has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EE). Broken into parts: hy · EE · nuh.
Do Americans and Brits say hyena the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /haɪˈinə/ and the British form is /haɪˈiːnə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.