2 syllables: her, bert. Stress on her.
HUR-burt
/ˈhɝbɚt/
herbert is pronounced HUR-burt (/ˈhɝbɚt/). It has two syllables (her-bert), with the stress on "her". Herbert is a proper noun, commonly a given name, with occasional usage as a surname. It denotes a person, living or historical, and can also appear in literary or fictional contexts. In pronunciation, it is typically two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈhɜːrbərt/ in American and /ˈhɜːbət/ in many UK varieties, though regional variations exist.
Herbert is a proper noun, commonly a given name, with occasional usage as a surname. It denotes a person, living or historical, and can also appear in literary or fictional contexts. In pronunciation, it is typically two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈhɜːrbərt/ in American and /ˈhɜːbət/ in many UK varieties, though regional variations exist.
"Herbert Lawson visited the archive to study 19th‑century handwriting."
"The professor Herbert gave a riveting lecture on medieval manuscripts."
"Herbert and I debated the best approach to the problem before us."
Pronounce Herbert with two syllables and primary stress on the first: US /ˈhɜːrbərt/, UK typically /ˈhɜːbət/ or /ˈhɜːdə/ depending on speaker; Australian can be /ˈhɜːbə/ or /ˈhɜːbət/. Start with /h/ followed by /ɜː/ (as in 'her'), then an /r/ or a non-rhotic variant, then /b/ and a light /ərt/ or /ət/ ending. Lip rounding is moderate; keep the tongue high-mid; ensure the first syllable carries the beat.
Common errors include misplacing stress (giving undue weight to the second syllable), reducing the first vowel to a short /ɪ/ or /ə/ that compresses the name, and either oversounding the /r/ in non-rhotic accents or omitting the final /t/. Correction tips: keep primary stress on the first syllable, produce the vowel as /ɜː/ (or /ɜːr/ in rhotic accents) and conclude with a crisp /t/. Practice saying /ˈhɜːrbərt/ (US) or /ˈhɜːbət/ (UK) and tap the final /t/ without voicing.
In US English, /ˈhɜːrbərt/ with rhotic /r/ in both syllables; the second syllable reduces to /ərt/ or /ərt/. UK English tends toward /ˈhɜːbə/ or /ˈhɜːbt/ with a lighter or non-rhotic /r/, and often a shorter final vowel. Australian tends to a broad /ˈhɜːbə/ or /ˈhɜːbət/ with a somewhat centralized vowel and a soft, quick final consonant. The key differences center on rhoticity and vowel quality in the first syllable, plus the realization of the final syllable.
The challenge lies in balancing the stressed first syllable with a mid-back vowel /ɜː/ across accents, plus the subtle /r/ in the second syllable and the final /t/. Non-rhotic speakers may skip or soften the trailing /r/, altering rhythm, while rhotic speakers must coordinate the /r/ and /t/ transitions quickly. Additionally, the name’s two-syllable cadence can trip up learners who expect a more open vowel in the second syllable.
A common search angle is whether to vocalize the final /t/ in fast or careful speech. In careful speech, you’ll clearly release the /t/ as a voiceless alveolar stop [t], while in connected speech, some speakers may use a glottalization or a light, unreleased ending in rapid context, especially in UK or Australian varieties. Maintain the first-syllable stress and crisp final consonant for naturalness.
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Herbert originates from the Germanic name Heribert, composed of the elements heri- ‘army, troop’ and berht- ‘bright, famous’. The name entered English via the Norman and medieval periods, with early spellings such as Herebert or Herberd appearing in charter evidence from the 12th century. It gained popularity in Britain and later in the United States, particularly after the 19th century, partly due to bilingual naming patterns and saints’ names. The evolution of the meaning reflects a fusion of martial honor and brightness, leading to its modern status as a classic male given name. Through centuries, the pronunciation settled into two syllables with primary stress on the first, though regional vowels shifted, especially in non-rhotic UK varieties where the 'r' may be less pronounced in certain accents. First known uses appear in Latinized or French-influenced medieval documents, with English spellings stabilizing by the Early Modern period. In contemporary usage, Herbert functions primarily as a given name, occasionally as a surname, and can carry a slightly formal or traditional connotation within English-speaking communities.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "herbert" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "herbert" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "herbert"
-ert sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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