3 syllables: here, un, to. Stress on here.
HIR-uhn-too
/ˈhɪɹəntuː/
hereunto is pronounced HIR-uhn-too (/ˈhɪɹəntuː/). It has three syllables (here-un-to), with the stress on "here". Hereunto means “to this place or thing,” or more archaically, “to this.” It is often found in legal, formal, or historical texts. The word is long, with a formal tone, and tends to appear in paired phrases like “hereunto I say” rather than in everyday speech. It carries a ceremonial or solemn register and is rarely used in modern casual writing.
Hereunto means “to this place or thing,” or more archaically, “to this.” It is often found in legal, formal, or historical texts. The word is long, with a formal tone, and tends to appear in paired phrases like “hereunto I say” rather than in everyday speech. It carries a ceremonial or solemn register and is rarely used in modern casual writing.
"- Hereunto I pledge my loyalty to the Crown and its people."
"- The deed was signed hereunto, and the seal was affixed."
"- Hereunto, we present the following report for your consideration."
Hereunto is pronounced /hɪˈər.ənˌtuː/ in US and UK practice, with primary stress on the second syllable: he-REHN-too. In IPA for US: hɪˈɚ.ənˌtuː or hɪˈɪr.ənˌtuː depending on speaker. Your lips should float toward a mid-front vowel for the first syllable, then a rhotacized or rhotic schwa-like sound on the second syllable, and finally a clear long /uː/ in the last. Try to keep vowels concise and the consonants clean, with minimal vowel reduction in the second syllable.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (putting emphasis on the first syllable), flattening the second syllable vowel into a quick /ə/ sound, and mispronouncing the final /uː/ as a short /u/. To correct: keep primary stress on the second syllable: he-RENT-oo, ensure the /ɜː/ or rhotacized /ɚ/ in the middle, and round the lips for the final long /uː/. Practice by isolating each segment and then blending them slowly.
In US pronunciation, the middle vowel tends to be a rhotacized vowel or a relaxed /ɚ/ sound, with a clear /tuː/ at the end. UK pronunciation tends to a non-rhotic /ə/ or a light /ɜː/ in the middle, with less rhotic influence, while the final /tuː/ remains long. Australian tends to a rounded final /uː/ with a mid or close-mid central vowel in the middle, and slight vowel shifting in the first syllable. Overall, the final /tuː/ is consistently long across accents.
The difficulties come from the multi-syllabic sequence with a stressed second syllable, the subtle rhotic or non-rhotic middle vowel, and the final long /uː/ that requires lip rounding without distortion. The transition between /ɚ/ or /ə/ and /tuː/ can cause vowel length confusion, and the archaic cadence makes speakers pause mid-word. Focus on separate articulation of each segment, then blend to achieve a smooth, ceremonial delivery.
Is the middle syllable /ər/ or /ɜː/ and should it be rhotacized in US pronunciation? In careful US speech you’ll hear /hɪˈɚ.ən.tuː/ with a subtle rhotacized middle vowel; in careful UK speech you might hear a non-rhotic /hɪəˈən.tuː/ where the middle vowel is less rhotic. The key is maintaining a consistent second-syllable stress and a distinct, long final /uː/.
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Hereunto is a compound of here + unto, both of Germanic origin. Here is from Old English hēr (‘in this place’), related to Dutch hier and German hier. Unto comes from Old English unto, from the preposition on + to, indicating direction toward. The combination hereunto first appeared in Middle English in religious and legal texts, often in translations from Latin phrases like ad hoc. It functioned as a forward-facing directional pronoun/adverb, signaling motion or reference toward the present document or statement. Over time, hereunto solidified into a fixed legal/formal collocation, typically surrounded by sentences that claim authority, consent, or attestation. The sense broadened to “to this time/place/thing” in a formal sense, and in specialized contexts it can also convey “as a result of this matter.” First known uses appear in late medieval legal charters and religious tracts, where formal address and oath-taking anchored the language. The word’s elevation remains perceptible in modern translations of older texts, particularly where ceremonial diction is desired. While rare in contemporary speech, its cadence and formality persist in ceremonial documents and certain stylized writings.
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Words that rhyme with "hereunto"
-ero sounds
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