hadas

Pronounce as ha-das with two syllables, stress on the second syllable: ha-DAS. IPA: US hɑˈdæs, UK həˈdɑːs, AU hɑːˈdæs. Start with an open back lax vowel in the first syllable, then a crisp, non-aspirated /d/ followed by the open-mid /æ/ or /aː/ depending on dialect, and end with a light /s/. Mouth position: start with a relaxed jaw, raise the tongue to touch the alveolar ridge for /d/, finish with a gentle unvoiced /s/.

Common errors: rushing the second syllable, turning it into HAD-as with equal emphasis; mispronouncing the vowel as a long /eɪ/ or /e/ rather than /æ/ or /aː/. Correction: gently separate the syllables, place primary stress on DAS, ensure the /d/ is a true alveolar stop, and relax the final /s/ so it isn’t voiceless but lightly hissed. Practice with slow pace and then normalize speed.

In US English, you’ll hear hɑˈdæs with a short a, non-rhotic tendencies are minimal for Hebrew loanwords. UK speakers may use həˈdɑːs with a longer second vowel and a slightly rounded initial vowel; AU often favors hɑːˈdæs with a broader vowel in the first syllable and a more open second. Across accents, the main variance is vowel length and quality in the first syllable and the final /s/ duration.

Because it’s a Hebrew loanword, it preserves distinct Hebrew phonemes unfamiliar to many English speakers: a breve two-syllable stress pattern, a firm alveolar /d/, and a final unvoiced /s/ that must be crisp but not aspirated. The first vowel often uses a lax, back quality that differs from typical English fronted vowels; this makes it easy to misplace the stress or merge syllables. Focus on the two-syllable cadence and precise consonant timing.

A unique feature is the precise Hebrew two-syllable contour and the alveolar stop /d/ between two vowels, often producing a subtle epenthesis in rapid speech if not careful. You’ll want to avoid vowel reduction in the second syllable; keep the /æ/ or /aː/ segment clear before the final /s/.