How to Pronounce “hiatus”
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- American (US)
- /haɪˈeɪtəs/
What “hiatus” means
noun — A gap in a series, making it incomplete.
Pronunciation Notes
Where the stress falls. “hiatus” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /haɪˈeɪtəs/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.
An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /haɪˈeɪtəs/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "hiatus" mean?
hiatus (noun): A gap in a series, making it incomplete.
What is the IPA transcription of "hiatus"?
/haɪˈeɪtəs/ in American English.
Which syllable is stressed in "hiatus"?
“hiatus” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /haɪˈeɪtəs/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.
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