How to Pronounce Hereditary

To pronounce "hereditary", say HER-ed-it-ary — 4 syllables, IPA /həˈɹɛdɪt(ə)ɹi/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

hereditary

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Accent

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4

Syllables

10

Letters

/həˈɹɛdɪt(ə)ɹi/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “hereditary”

"hereditary" has 4 syllables: her-ed-it-ary. It rhymes with extraordinary and contemporary, if that helps it stick.

What does hereditary mean?

noun

  1. A hereditary ruler; a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.

adjective

  1. Passed on as an inheritance, by last will or intestate.
  2. Of a title, honor or right: legally granted to somebody's descendant after that person's death.

    “Duke is a hereditary title which was created in Norman times.”

Synonyms

inhereditary

Antonyms

nonhereditary

Hear “hereditary” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with hereditary

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

extraordinarycontemporarycontrarysanctuarysolitaryarbitrarywaryordinarytarryemissarycarryancillary

Related words

patrimonialinheritedheritableinheritableancestralfamilialtransmittedgenetic

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "hereditary"?▾

"Hereditary" has 4 syllables: her · ed · it · ary.

What is the IPA transcription of "hereditary"?▾

The IPA transcription of "hereditary" is /həˈɹɛdɪt(ə)ɹi/.

What does "hereditary" mean?▾

Hereditary: A hereditary ruler; a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.

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