How to pronounce inherit
Say it like in-HER-ut. Inherit has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce inherit. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- HER
- ut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Inherit pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- HERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- utKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of inherit
American and British speakers say inherit in essentially the same way: /ˌɪnˈhɛrət/ in the US and /ɪnˈhɛrɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-HER-it.
What does inherit mean?
- obtain from someone after their death“I inherited a castle from my French grandparents”
- receive from a predecessor“The new chairman inherited many problems from the previous chair”
- receive by genetic transmission“I inherited my good eyesight from my mother”
Where does inherit come from?
From Middle English enheriten, from Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhereditare (“make heir”).
Words that rhyme with inherit
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of inherit.
Questions about saying inherit
How do you pronounce inherit?
Say in-HER-ut. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˈhɛrət/. In British English it is /ɪnˈhɛrɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in inherit?
Inherit has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HER). Broken into parts: in · HER · ut.
Do Americans and Brits say inherit the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪnˈhɛrət/ and the British form is /ɪnˈhɛrɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.