2 syllables: head, er. Stress on head.
HED-ur
/ˈhɛdɚ/
header is pronounced HED-ur (/ˈhɛdɚ/). It has two syllables (head-er), with the stress on "head". Header refers to the top section of a document, page, or webpage, or to a person in charge of a group. It can also serve as a verb meaning to place or arrange a header on a document. In computing, it denotes metadata or a label at the beginning of a data block. The term conveys a sense of leading, topmost position or descriptor information.
Header refers to the top section of a document, page, or webpage, or to a person in charge of a group. It can also serve as a verb meaning to place or arrange a header on a document. In computing, it denotes metadata or a label at the beginning of a data block. The term conveys a sense of leading, topmost position or descriptor information.
- You might default to a long E in the first syllable (HE-der). Keep the first vowel short (/ɛ/), not /iː/. - In rapid speech, you may merge the second syllable too quickly, producing /ˈhedər/ as /ˈhedr/. Maintain a light, quick schwa for the second syllable. - Some speakers overemphasize the /r/ in non-rhotic accents or drop it in rhotic contexts. Follow the accent you’re targeting; US tends to vocalize the r, UK/AU often not.
"The header at the top of the article includes the title and author."
"Please update the header to reflect the new company name."
"In HTML, the header element contains navigational links and branding."
Pronounce it as /ˈhɛdər/ (US) or /ˈhedə/ (UK/AU). Put primary stress on the first syllable: HED-er. The mouth opens for a crisp, short /ɛ/ in the first vowel, followed by a schwa /ə/ in the second syllable. Tip: keep the /d/ clearly released and avoid turning the second syllable into a separate syllable with a strong vowel. Listen to native examples and mimic rhythm, not just sounds.
Common errors include substituting /iː/ in the first syllable (hee-der) or reducing the second syllable too much so it sounds like /hedr/ with minimal vowel. Another trap is a voiced-voiceless mismatch in the /d/ release, making it sound like /hedə/ with a weakened or elided second syllable. To correct: hold the /ɛ/ sound for a brief moment, ensure a clean /d/ release, and end with a light schwa. Practice with minimal pairs focusing on vowel length and forced air release.
US: strong /ˈhɛdər/ with rhotic /r/ in the second syllable. UK: /ˈhedə/ with a reduced second syllable and non-rhotic r, and a shorter first vowel in some dialects. AU: /ˈhedə/ similar to UK, but may have subtle vowel quality shifts toward a concise schwa and less tense articulation. In all, the primary stress remains on the first syllable, but the second syllable vowel quality and rhoticity vary. Pay attention to whether the /r/ is pronounced or silent in your accent.
The challenge often lies in balancing a crisp /d/ release with a quick, unstressed second syllable that uses a weak vowel. The presence of the short front vowel /ɛ/ in the first syllable requires precise tongue height and lip posture, which can drift with speed. Additionally, the potential for rhoticity in US accents versus non-rhotic UK/AU accents can confuse learners about whether to vocalize the /r/. Focus on separating the syllables clearly while preserving a natural rhythm.
A unique aspect is the pronounced /d/ release followed by a reduced schwa in many dialects. You may also encounter subtle vowel reduction in fast speech where /ɛ/ shifts toward /e/ or /eɪ/ in rapid contexts. The word’s frontness makes the first vowel particularly sensitive to surrounding consonants; it benefits from deliberate mouth positioning: jaw slightly lowered, tongue mid-high, lips relaxed. The combination yields the crisp onset of HED and an almost fleeting second syllable.
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- US: emphasise the rhotic /ər/ ending; keep the /ɚ/ sound relaxed and quick. IPA: /ˈhɛdɚ/. - UK: non-rhotic: /ˈhedə/; ensure the second syllable uses a reduced vowel without an /r/ sound. IPA: /ˈhedə/. - AU: similar to UK, with slight vowel quality variation; avoid over-enunciating the /r/. - For all: keep stress on first syllable, practice with slow-to-fast pacing and consistent vowel quality.
Header comes from Middle English header, from Old English heafod meaning head. The semantic core shifts around “head” or “top” and later broadens to refer to the heading or top label of a document or page. The word aligns with other head-derived terms like headword, overhead, and headed. In early printing, “header” denoted the running heading at the top of a page. With the advent of computing, “header” extended to metadata blocks at the top of a data structure or network packet. The evolution from physical page top to digital metadata reflects a consistent metaphor: something placed at the front, signaling content to follow. First known uses appear in the 14th–15th centuries in English, with later standardization in printing and typesetting by the 16th–18th centuries, and then widespread adoption in computer science in the 20th century as computing jargon expanded. Historically, header has retained its core sense of front-facing information while expanding into technical contexts like HTTP headers, file headers, and document headers, maintaining its strong association with frontness and priority.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "header" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "header" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "header"
-der sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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