HEV-ee-uhst
/ˈhɛviəst/
heaviest is pronounced HEV-ee-uhst (/ˈhɛviəst/). Heaviest is the superlative form of 'heavy,' meaning having the greatest weight or mass. It refers to objects or persons with maximal heaviness within a given group, often used in comparison. In pronunciation, it ends with the /-əst/ suffix, producing a crisp, two-syllable or three-syllable word depending on rhythm.
Heaviest is the superlative form of 'heavy,' meaning having the greatest weight or mass. It refers to objects or persons with maximal heaviness within a given group, often used in comparison. In pronunciation, it ends with the /-əst/ suffix, producing a crisp, two-syllable or three-syllable word depending on rhythm.
"The heaviest box in the stack required two people to lift."
"Among all the rocks, this piece is the heaviest by a wide margin."
"She wore a heaviest cloak to stay warm on the mountain."
Say HEV-ee-st with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈhɛ.vi.ɪst/ in most accents, or /ˈhē.vi.əst/ in others. The key: hold the /ɛ/ or /eɪ/ sound briefly, then a quick, lighter second syllable /vi/ before the final /st/. If you say HEV-ty-st, you’re overcorrecting; aim for a smooth transition into the -est suffix. Visualize a two-beat rhythm: HEV- /i/ /st/.
Common errors include turning the first syllable into a longer /iː/ or /i/ sound (like 'heave'), producing /ˈhiː.vist/ instead of /ˈhɛ.vɪst/; slurring the middle vowel so it becomes /ˈhɛv.iːst/; and tensing the final /t/ into a heavy /d/ sound. Correction: keep the first syllable short and crisp with /ɛ/ or /e/; maintain a quick but separate /vi/ in the second syllable; and land the final /st/ cleanly without voicing the /d/.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈhɛ.vɪst/ with a lax final syllable and a non-rhotic tendency in some regions; in UK English, /ˈhɛ.vɪst/ or /ˈhɛv.i.ɪst/ with slightly clearer vowel quality and perhaps a touch more clipped final /t/; in Australian English, /ˈhɛ.vɪst/ with a brighter vowel and a tendency toward a light, less aspirated /t/. The rhoticity implications are minimal here since /t/ after a vowel is generally unreleased or lightly aspirated in all three.
Because it blends a closed front vowel in the first syllable with a fast, unstressed second syllable that can blur into /ɪ/ or /ə/. The transition from /ɛ/ to /v/ to /ɪ/ requires precise tongue positioning and a clean /st/ cluster release. The final /t/ must remain voiceless and not assimilate into a following sound, which is tricky in fast speech.
The key feature is the two-component syllable rhythm: HEV- /i/ -st. Many searchers wonder if the 'ea' pattern affects it; in 'heaviest' there’s no long 'ea' diphthong, but rather a short vowel in the first syllable followed by a crisp /v/ and a rapid /ɪ/ or /ə/ before the final /st/. Keeping the stress on the first syllable and ensuring the second syllable is compact helps clarity.
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Heaviest comes from heavy + the suffix -est, which marks the superlative degree in English adjectives. Heavy itself traces back to Old English heav(e) (or hefig) with roots related to weight and mass, from Proto-Germanic *hafa- or *hafaz, connected to Dutch zwaar and German schwer. The suffix -est developed in Middle English to create superlatives in adjectives of one syllable or stressed syllables, with later irregular forms stabilized into -est in common usage for many adjectives. Historically, early forms such as 'heavest' appear in Middle English texts, evolving into the modern contraction 'heaviest' as pronunciation and spelling stabilized. The concept of superlative weight has long been culturally salient, leading to frequent usage in physics, measurement, and everyday comparison. First known uses in written English appear in the late Old English period, with more standardized appearances in Early Modern English as scientific discourse expanded and standardized spelling took hold.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "heaviest" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "heaviest"
-est sounds
-ast sounds
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