2 syllables: Hedge, hog. Stress on Hedge.
HEJ-hahg
/ˈhɛˌdʒhɑɡ/
Hedgehog is pronounced HEJ-hahg (/ˈhɛˌdʒhɑɡ/). It has two syllables (Hedge-hog), with the stress on "Hedge". Hedgehog is a small, spiny mammal native to Europe, though now widely distributed. It typically forages at night, curling into a ball when threatened. The word also evokes popular stuffed animals and a classic children’s character. As a noun, it denotes the animal itself and derives from a compound of hedge and hog, highlighting its habitat and appearance.
nounHedgehog is a small, spiny mammal native to Europe, though now widely distributed. It typically forages at night, curling into a ball when threatened. The word also evokes popular stuffed animals and a classic children’s character. As a noun, it denotes the animal itself and derives from a compound of hedge and hog, highlighting its habitat and appearance.
"The hedgehog scurried along the hedge, its spines bristling as it paused to sniff the air."
"Children’s tales often feature a brave hedgehog who outsmarts the fox."
"We watched a hedgehog rummage through the garden at dusk, searching for insects."
Pronounce as two connected syllables: HEDG-e-hog with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈhɛdʒˌhɔɡ/ (US/UK: ˈhɛdʒˌhɔɡ; AU: ˈhɛdʒˌhɒɡ). The essential sounds are /h/ + /ɛ/ (as in bed), the /dʒ/ affricate as in jam, then /hɔɡ/ with a short O as in dog. Tip: keep the /dʒ/ tightly integrated, avoid separating the second syllable. Audio reference: you can compare with common pronunciation tutorials or dictionary audio for the exact blend. Ensure you maintain a clear /dʒ/ rather than a separate /d/ plus /ʒ/.
Common errors include dividing the word into hedge + hog with a hard pause, producing a flat or misaligned /dʒ/ sound, and misplacing stress by overemphasizing the second syllable. To correct: blend /dʒ/ as a single affricate: /dʒ/ in /ˈhɛdʒ/ and keep the second syllable lighter with /ˌhɔɡ/. Practice the word in a linked sequence like hedgehog- habitat to feel natural rhythm. Use minimal pairs to refine: hedge vs hedgehog to feel the connecting /dʒ/.
In most English varieties, the first syllable carries primary stress: /ˈhɛdʒ/. The second syllable uses a reduced or light rhotic vowel depending on accent. US and UK share /ɔːɡ/ or /ɔɡ/ with minor quality differences; AU may show slightly more rounded vowels in the second syllable and tensing on the final /ɡ/. Rhoticity is typically not strong in hedgehog; non-rhotic accents keep the /ɡ/ clear but do not vocalize the r. Overall, the core /ˈhɛdʒ/ remains consistent, with vowel length and quality shifting subtly by accent.
Two main challenges: /d/ plus /ʒ/ cluster produces a tricky /dʒ/ affricate that must stay connected to the following syllable without a break, and the short vowel in /hɔɡ/ can vary between /ɔ/ and /ɒ/ across dialects. Beginners often over-articulate the second syllable or mis-heed the light stress. Focus on practicing the /ˈhɛdʒ/ combination as a single unit and then glide into /hɔɡ/ with a crisp final /ɡ/. Listening to native pronunciations helps solidify the flow.
A unique aspect is the potential linking of the /dʒ/ to the following vowel, creating a rapid, fused onset for the second syllable in fluent speech. The sequence /ˈhɛdʒˌhɔɡ/ often sounds like a single, near-continuous motion rather than two separate syllables when spoken quickly. To master, practice with phrase-level drills that connect hedgehog to words ending in -h‑ or beginning with h-, ensuring the /dʒ/ remains a tight affricate rather than a sequence of /d/ + /ʒ/.
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US: clear rhoticity is less relevant; vowels in hedg e hog are fairly close to /ɛ/ and /ɔ/; UK: more open /ɔː/ variation; AU: tends to be slightly more centralized vowels in the second syllable and a crisp, short /ɡ/. IPA references help: /ˈhɛdʒˌhɔɡ/ (US), /ˈhɛdʒˌhɒɡ/ (UK/AU). Focus on maintaining the /dʒ/ as one unit, and ensure the second syllable vowel doesn’t drift toward /ə/. Your mouth should drop slightly for the /ɔ/ or /ɒ/; keep lips neutral for the final /ɡ/.
Hedgehog derives from Middle English hedge + hog, literally a hog that resides by hedges. The first element hedge appears in Germanic languages and Old English as hedga/hadge, referring to a barrier or enclosure; its robust semantic field includes hedge, hedge-rows and shrubberies. The second element hog comes from Old English hogg, related to the Proto-Germanic *hukkaz, indicating a pig-like animal. The combination likely emerged in early medieval times to describe a small, spiny mammal that nests or forages near hedges. The term Hedgehog was well established by the 14th century in English texts, with the compound consistently used to differentiate it from larger porcupines or other spiny creatures. Over centuries, as classification evolved, the species in Europe became universally known as the hedgehog, while the word’s figurative use in popular culture (toys, characters) popularized its friendly, non-threatening image. In modern times, the word also travels in scientific nomenclature (Erinaceus europaeus in Europe), but the common English name remains hedgehog, emphasizing its hedge habitat and hog-like appearance rather than rigorous taxonomic grouping.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hedgehog" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Hedgehog" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Hedgehog"
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