3 syllables: ha, zel, nut. Stress on ha.
HAY-zuhl-nuht
/ˈheɪzəˌlnʌt/
hazelnut is pronounced HAY-zuhl-nuht (/ˈheɪzəˌlnʌt/). It has three syllables (ha-zel-nut), with the stress on "ha". Hazelnut is the edible seed of the hazel tree, typically roasted and used in confections, spreads, and baking. In everyday speech, it refers to the nut itself or to products flavored with hazelnut. The term combines hazel (the tree) with nut, and the word is commonly used in culinary contexts and ingredient lists.
Hazelnut is the edible seed of the hazel tree, typically roasted and used in confections, spreads, and baking. In everyday speech, it refers to the nut itself or to products flavored with hazelnut. The term combines hazel (the tree) with nut, and the word is commonly used in culinary contexts and ingredient lists.
"I spread hazelnut butter on toast for a quick breakfast."
"The dessert featured a rich hazelnut praline glaze."
"She toasted the hazelnuts to bring out their aroma."
Say hazel with the stressed syllable HEɪ, then add nut. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈheɪ.zəlˌnʌt/. Start with a long A vowel, then glide to a schwa in the second syllable, ending with a clear /t/. Open jaw slightly for /z/ before the vowel and keep the /l/ light. Think: HEY-zuhl-NUT. You can hear it in standard dictionaries or pronunciation vids; try saying it slowly, then blend.
Common errors: misplacing stress (saying HEZ-uh-lnut or haz-EL-nut), mispronouncing the second syllable as a full ‘eel’ sound instead of a schwa /ə/ or /əl/, and rushing to produce a hard /t/. Correction: keep the second syllable as /zəl/ with a relaxed /ə/ before /l/, and end crisply on /t/. Practice by isolating the three segments: HEɪ- zəl - nʌt, then blend quickly.
All three accents share /ˈheɪ.zəlˌnʌt/, but vowel quality differs: US rhoticity makes /r/ absent, the /ə/ can be closer to /ɚ/ in American casual speech, and UK/AU may have a slightly more rounded /ɜː/ influence in the second syllable. Additionally, Australians may compress the final vowel slightly and keep a clear /t/. Overall, the primary stress pattern remains the same.
Difficulties stem from the sequence zəl in the second syllable and the quick transition into the final /nʌt/. The /ˈheɪ/ onset can blur with a nearby word-initial /h/ in fast speech, and the final /t/ can be unreleased in rapid utterances. Focus on a controlled /z/ release, a clear /ə/ (or /ɪ/ for some speakers), and a crisp /t/ to avoid a ‘nut’ sounding like ‘nuh’.
A unique hazard is the potential reduction or elision of the /əl/ in casual speech, turning hazelnut into something closer to HEY-znuh-t in rapid speech. To avoid this, practice the //z/ + schwa + l cluster slowly, then accelerate while maintaining a light, syllabic /l/. IPA reference: /ˈheɪ.zəlˌnʌt/.
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Hazelnut derives from the combination of hazel, the name of the tree Corylus avellana, and nut, referring to the fruit produced by the tree. The word hazel itself traces to Old Englishhæsel, related to the Proto-Germanichasalô and Proto-Indo-European roots associated with the hazel tree and its nuts. The term nut is Germanic in origin and has been used since Middle English as a general term for edible seeds enclosed in a hard shell. The compound hazelnut appears in English texts by the 16th–17th centuries as honeynut or filbert-nut in some dialects, with hazelnut becoming the preferred standard form by the 18th century. The nut has been valued since ancient times for its edible kernel and oil-rich composition, and the name persisted in culinary contexts as hazelnut or filbertnut in various regional varieties. The shift from “filbert” to “hazelnut” reflects a broader trend in English to replace less transparent, regionally entrenched terms with compound-descriptor names that specify both the tree and the edible portion. Today, hazelnut is ubiquitous in global cuisine, with the roasted kernel forming the basis of pralines, chocolates, spreads, and flavorings.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hazelnut" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "hazelnut"
-tle sounds
-tal sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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