Ezekiel is a masculine proper noun, chiefly known as a biblical prophet’s name. It is pronounced with three syllables and stresses the second syllable, carrying a formal, ecclesiastical tone. In everyday use, it remains distinctive and religiously loaded, often appearing in literary or historical contexts rather than casual conversation.
"The sermon referenced Ezekiel's visions from the Hebrew Bible."
"Scholars discussed Ezekiel in the context of prophetic literature."
"We studied Ezekiel’s symbolic imagery in class."
"A hymn in the service quoted Ezekiel 37 about dry bones."
The name Ezekiel originates in the Hebrew יְחֶזְקָאֵל (Yechezkel, often contracted to Yechezkel or Yehezkel), composed of two roots: ‘yeḥezek’ meaning ‘strengthened’ or ‘God will strengthen’ and the divine name element ‘-el,’ a common ending in Hebrew theophoric names meaning ‘God.’ In the Hebrew Bible, the prophet’s name is rendered as Yechezkel or Yeḥezqel; in Greek it appears as Ezekiel, and in Latin as Ezechiel or Ezechiel. The form Ezekiel enters English via Latin translations in the Septuagint and Vulgate, gaining prevalence in Early Modern English with its characteristic three-syllable rhythm and the distinctive “E-ze-ki-el” segmentation. Historically, the name carried prophetic and legal associations in Jewish and Christian traditions and, over time, became a standard masculine given name in English-speaking contexts, retaining religious connotations while also appearing in secular literature and media.
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Words that rhyme with "Ezekiel"
-iel sounds
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Pronunciation: ih-ZEE-kee-əl (US) or ih-ZEE-kee-əl (UK/AU). It has three syllables with primary stress on the second: e-ZEE-kee-el, but you can think of it as ih-ZEE-kee-əl. IPA: US /ɪˈziːkiəl/; UK /ɪˈziːkɪəl/; AU /ɪˈziːkɪəl/. Mouth: start with a short, relaxed initial vowel, then a long “ee” in the second syllable, followed by a quick schwa or reduced final syllable. Audio reference: listen for the second-syllable stress and the clear “ki” pronunciation.
Common mistakes: 1) Slurring to four syllables or reducing to two (ez-kee-el). 2) Misplacing the stress on the first syllable (EZ-eh-kee-el). 3) Mispronouncing the middle vowel as a short ‘i’ instead of a long ‘ee’. Correction: keep the long ‘ee’ sound in the second syllable /ziː/ and place primary stress on the second syllable /ɪˈziːkiəl/. Use slow, deliberate vowel length in the second syllable and end with a clear /əl/ or /əl/.
US: final syllable often reduced to /əl/; stress on the second syllable: /ɪˈziːkiəl/. UK: similar, but the non-rhotic R absence doesn’t affect; vowels slightly clipped in some speakers: /ɪˈziːkɪəl/. AU: tends toward a slightly shorter /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a clearer /ɪː/ or /iː/ in the second; still primary stress on the second syllable. Overall, rhymes and rhythm stay consistent, but vowel quality shifts subtly: US mostly /iː/; UK/AU can show shorter /ɪ/ in the first, with vowel coalescence toward /iː/ in the second.
Key challenges: the three-syllable cadence with primary stress on the second syllable can feel unfamiliar; the long /iː/ in the second syllable may tempt speakers to shorten it; the final /əl/ can be pronounced as a light schwa-plus-L or as an /əl/ depending on accent. Focus on preserving the strong second syllable vowel /ˈziː/ and finishing with a clear, soft /əl/. Practice with a slow tempo, then speed up while maintaining the muscle memory of the second syllable.
In careful speech you’ll typically keep the full three-syllable form; “Zeke” is a common nickname but does not convey the full given name in formal contexts. Some speakers may briefly reduce to two syllables in rapid speech, saying /ˈziːkəl/ or /ˈziːkəl/. If you must use the nickname, be aware this shifts formality and resonance away from the biblical weight of Ezekiel.
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