3 syllables: Ha, bak, kuk. Stress on bak.
huh-BAK-uhk
/həˈbæk.ək/
Habakkuk is pronounced huh-BAK-uhk (/həˈbæk.ək/). It has three syllables (Ha-bak-kuk), with the stress on "bak". Habakkuk is a book and prophet in the Hebrew Bible, traditionally dated to the 7th century BCE. As a proper noun, it refers to the biblical figure and to the biblical book bearing his name. In modern usage, it appears in religious study, scholarly writing, and discussions of prophetic literature, often cited in theological contexts and religious education.
nounHabakkuk is a book and prophet in the Hebrew Bible, traditionally dated to the 7th century BCE. As a proper noun, it refers to the biblical figure and to the biblical book bearing his name. In modern usage, it appears in religious study, scholarly writing, and discussions of prophetic literature, often cited in theological contexts and religious education.
How to Pronounce Habakkuk
"You’ll find Habakkuk discussed in seminar readings on prophetic literature."
"The class compared Habakkuk’s questions with those of Job."
"A study Bible notes Habakkuk’s themes of faith and justice."
Pronounce as ha-BA-kkuk with emphasis on the second syllable; IPA for US is /ˌhɑːˈbækˌkʊk/ (or /ˌhəˈbæk.kʊk/ in some dialects). Break it into four phonemes: /h/ + /æ/ or /ɑː/ depending on speaker, /b/ + /æ/, /k/ + /k/ sequence; keep the second syllable short and strong, then finish with a clipped /k/.
Common errors include flattening the stress on the second syllable or misplacing it on the first (ha-BACK-kuk). Another frequent mistake is pronouncing the double consonant cluster as a single sound (habitually slurring /kk/). Correct by maintaining a sharp /k/ release before the final /k/ and keeping the middle vowel short. Practice with the four-syllable rhythm: ha-BA-kuk, with a crisp /k/ followed by a strong but brief final /k/.
In US English, you may hear /ˌhɑːˈbækˌkʊk/ with a broad /ɑː/ in the first open syllable and a lightly stressed ending. UK English often uses /ˌhæˈbækˌkjuːk/ or /ˌhəˈbekˌkʊk/ depending on tradition, with less rhotic emphasis. Australian English tends to align with US patterns but may sharpen vowels slightly and maintain nonrhotic tendencies; pay attention to the /ʊ/ in the final syllable and the subtle vowel differences in /æ/ versus /æː/ depending on speaker. Consistency in the stressed syllable is key across accents.
The difficulty lies in the four-syllable structure with a stressed second syllable and a double hard /kk/ cluster at the end. The sequence /bækk/ requires precise tongue position with a rapid, clipped /k/ release that doesn’t run into the following /k/. Additionally, the long-short vowel pattern (in some dialects) and the final /ʊk/ may be unfamiliar if you’re not used to Hebrew-derived names, so training your ear to hear the subtle vowel quality and consonant closures is essential.
A unique point is the potential for a slight epenthetic vowel in fast speech in some dialects, but careful enunciation avoids it; maintain clean syllable boundaries ha- BAK-kuk, ensuring the middle /æ/ is clear and the final /k/ is not luaid or softened. Also note that some readers preserve a hidden syllable boundary, guiding a deliberate four-syllable rhythm for precise articulation in reading aloud.
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Habakkuk originates from the Hebrew name חָבַקּוּק (Chavakuk or Havaqqûq), composed of elements meaning “embrace” or “clench” (chav) and a form of the verb qal or equivalent to “to seize” or “to embrace,” though the precise semantic readings vary by tradition. In the Hebrew Bible, names often carry theological significance; Habakkuk’s name has been linked to endurance and steadfastness in adversity. The book of Habakkuk is part of the Twelve Minor Prophets, likely written in the late 7th century BCE during or after the Assyrian and Babylonian pressures on Judah. It shows a shift from prophetic oracles to a dialogic lament, reflecting concerns about justice and divine accountability. The Latin Vulgate and Greek Septuagint transliterations render the name similarly to Habakkuk, preserving the initial “Ha-” and the stress on the second syllable in some traditions. In English, Habakkuk has appeared in Bible translations since the early centuries of Christian scholarship, with common spelling stabilizing in the early modern period. Modern scholarly usage tends to honor the Hebrew form while accommodating English phonology, resulting in Hab-ak-kuk or Ha-bak-kuk as you might encounter in religious studies texts and sermons. The pronunciation conventions have remained relatively stable in English, but scholars emphasize the Hebrew roots and syllabic structure to guide accurate articulation and reverence in liturgical contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "Habakkuk"
-ack sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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