Hearst is a proper noun referring to a family name (as in the media magnate William Randolph Hearst) or institutions bearing that name. It denotes a person’s surname or a place-name origin, and is pronounced with a stress on the first syllable. The pronunciation is typically single-syllable for the last name and may appear in broader toponyms or organization names associated with the Hearst family.
- US: /hɝst/, rhotic; keep rhotic coloration: hook the tongue toward the post-alveolar region, but don’t insert extra vowels. - UK/AU: /hɜːst/ or /hɜːst/, longer /ɜː/; non-rhotic in careful speech; nothing extra after /t/. - Focus on the pure nucleus before /st/, then snap /st/ sharply. Use IPA to guide mouth positions; practice with minimal pairs such as 'hurst' vs 'hirst' to hear vowel differences.
"The Hearst Corporation announced a new initiative."
"She studied the legacy of William Randolph Hearst."
"We visited the Hearst Castle during our road trip."
"The Hearst papers shaped early 20th-century journalism."
Hearst originates as a surname of English and Irish origin. It likely derives from a locational or descriptive name, possibly linked to a place-name element meaning ‘hear’ or ‘heart’ in Old English/Germanic roots, or as a reduced form from a longer medieval compound. The surname appears in English-language records in the medieval period and became widely recognized in the United States through the prominent Hearst family, notably William Randolph Hearst, who founded a large media empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name’s meaning as a surname would have been contextual to its locality or descriptor and did not imply modern semantic shifts beyond association with the family’s brand. The first well-documented bearer in English sources predates modern media prominence, with usage becoming global due to the Hearst Dynasty and its legacy. Over time, Hearst became a recognizable proper noun beyond a family name, often associated with journalism, publishing, and media ownership.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Hearst" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hearst" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Hearst" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Hearst"
-rst sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Hearst is pronounced as one syllable: US /hɝst/ (rhotic). The vowel is a mid-central r-colored vowel, similar to 'hurst.' UK/AU speakers typically use /hɜːst/ with a long but unrounded vowel. The initial consonant is a straightforward 'h,' followed by a crisp 'erst' with a final /st/. Emphasize the vowel quality without a diphthong and end with a clean /st/ cluster. Audio reference: [listen to native pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo]
Common errors include inserting an extra vowel between /h/ and /ɝ/ (he-erst instead of hearst) and mispronouncing the final /st/ as a separate sound or with an extra T-like release. Correct by keeping the sequence tight: h + ɝ (or ɜː in non-rhotic accents) + st. Ensure the vowel isn’t a lengthened /eɪ/ or /ɜɹ/; keep it a single, quick vowel nucleus before /st/.
In US accents, the vowel is rhotic: /hɝst/ with r-coloring. UK/AU accents are typically non-rhotic or less rhotacized in careful speech: /hɜːst/ or /hɜːst/ with a longer mid-central vowel; final /st/ remains. The main difference is the vowel quality and rhoticity: US preserves R coloring; UK/AU often have a tenser, longer /ɜː/ or reduced rhoticity depending on speaker and region. The initial /h/ and /st/ are consistent across varieties.
The difficulty centers on the short, tight vowel sound before the /st/ cluster and the lack of an explicit vowel between /h/ and /st/. Learners may insert an unnecessary vowel (he-erst) or misinterpret the vowel as /ɪ/ or /eɪ/. Practice with a single nucleus /ɝ/ or /ɜː/ and a clipped /st/ to avoid an intrusive vowel and to produce a clean, rapid consonant cluster.
Hearst often prompts questions about the /ɝ/ vs /ɜː/ distinction and whether the vowel is rhotic. In American speech, aim for /hɝst/ with rhotic /ɹ/ coloring; in many British contexts, /hɜːst/ without rhoticity or with reduced r-coloring. Focus on the single, quick nucleus vowel and an unaspirated, tight /st/ release to avoid a trailing vowel.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Hearst"!
- Shadow a short audio clip saying Hearst 5-7 times; imitate the mouth shape and timing. - Minimal pairs: Hearst vs Harst vs Hirst (careful: /hɑːst/ or /hɜːst/ variants) to isolate vowel quality. - Rhythm: say Hearst in a sentence, focusing on a quick one-syllable nucleus before a crisp /st/; keep stress on the first syllable as the name’s natural emphasis. - Stress/Intonation: in isolation vs in context; practice a flat, confident delivery for a surname, with a slight fall after the word in a sentence. - Recording: record yourself and compare with a native speaker; aim for a single syllable, not two.
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