6 syllables: he, te, ro, sex, u, al. Stress on sex.
het-uh-roh-SYOO-uhl
/hɛtəroʊˈsjuːəl/
heterosexual is pronounced het-uh-roh-SYOO-uhl (/hɛtəroʊˈsjuːəl/). It has six syllables (he-te-ro-sex-u-al), with the stress on "sex". A term describing sexual orientation toward individuals of the opposite gender. It functions as a noun or adjective in modern usage, though prestige or clinical contexts may prefer alternative labels. The word emphasizes heterosexual attraction and behavior across social and cultural contexts, with stress on the penultimate syllable in typical English pronunciation.
A term describing sexual orientation toward individuals of the opposite gender. It functions as a noun or adjective in modern usage, though prestige or clinical contexts may prefer alternative labels. The word emphasizes heterosexual attraction and behavior across social and cultural contexts, with stress on the penultimate syllable in typical English pronunciation.
Tips: slow to normal progression with deliberate articulation; say the word in isolation, then in lip-sync sentences, then in a quick phrase. Use a mirror to monitor lip shape for /tʃ/ and rounded lips for /uəl/.”,
"She identifies as heterosexual and is partnered with a man."
"The study surveyed heterosexual couples and their relationship dynamics."
"In the clinic, clinicians may discuss heterosexual relationships in contrast to LGBTQ+ dynamics."
Usual pronunciation: /ˌhɛtərəˈsɛk·ʃuəl/. Start with /h/ then /ɛ/ in the first syllable, stress falls on the /ˈsɛk/ portion, then a /tʃ/ blend in the -che- sequence. The final -ual is /uəl/. Maintain separate syllables: he-ter-e-**s**ec-u-al, with the /t/ released and the /r/ lightly rhotic. Listen for /ˌhɛ-tə-rə-ˈsɛk-ʃu-əl/ in careful speech, avoiding any blending that makes it sound like ‘heterosexual’ with a dull inter-dental approximant.
Common errors: conflating /ˈhɛt/ with /ˈhet/ and slurring the /r/; misplacing stress by saying ‘he-te-RE-ck-shu-al’ or flattening /ʃ/ into /s/; omitting the /tʃ/ sequence and saying /ˌhɛtərəˈsɛk.ju.əl/ with a j-sound mishap. Correction: clearly articulate /tʃ/ as a single affricate in -che-, keep the /r/ as a light rhotic following the initial syllable, and place primary stress on the /ˈsɛk/ portion while maintaining /-uəl/ as a distinct final diphthong+consonant. Use slow practice to lock the sequence /ˈsɛk-ʃu-əl/.
US typically uses /ˌhɛtərəˈsɛk·ʃuəl/ with a rhotic /r/ and a clear /ˈsɛk/; UK often reduces /t/ lightly and may show tighter /ɜː/ in the final syllable; Australian tends toward a slightly flatter vowel for /ɛ/ and a broad /ə/ in unstressed syllables; all maintain the /tʃ/ in -che- and final /uəl/ while vowel qualities shift with regional rhotics and vowel length.
Two main challenges: the /tʃu/ cluster after /sɛk/ (the /tʃ/ sound can blur with /t/ or /k/ in rapid speech) and the multisyllabic rhythm with stress on the second-to-last stressed syllable. The near-sequence /-sɛk-ʃu-/ requires precise tongue positioning: alveolar /t/ release into the palato-alveolar /tʃ/ and a rolling /r/ in some accents. Also, maintaining the final /-uəl/ without minimal vowel drift can be tricky in fast dialogue.
There are no silent letters in the standard pronunciation, but the /t/ might be unreleased in quick speech, and the /r/ can be non-rhotic in some UK forms, altering the perceived syllable boundaries. The -che- sequence is pronounced as /tʃ/ following the /k/ onset of the second syllable chunk, so you hear a distinct /k/ then /tʃ/. Emphasize the clean /t/ release into /r/ and then /ˈsɛk-ʃu-əl/ for accurate articulation.
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The word heterosexual comes from the Greek prefix hetero- meaning 'different' and the Latin/Greek root -sexual from Latin sexus, sex- 'sex, gender' combined with the suffix -al forming an adjective/noun. The coining pattern is parallel to homosexual (Greek hetero- with Latin -sexual via French/Latin influence). The exact formation dates to the 19th–20th centuries when sexual orientation began to be described in clinical and social discourse; it gained broad usage in English in the mid-20th century alongside increasing awareness of same-sex relationships. The root hetero- appears in many scientific terms in the 19th century, while -sexual came to prominence through medical and psychological literature. First known uses include scholarly articles distinguishing heterosexual from homosexual tendencies in discussions of sexuality, with the term becoming common in dictionaries and social language by the 1960s–1980s as public discourse about sexual orientation expanded.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "heterosexual" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "heterosexual" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "heterosexual" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "heterosexual"
-ial sounds
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