3 syllables: Hi, bis, cus. Stress on bis.
hib-IS-kuhs
/hɪˈbɪskəs/
Hibiscus is pronounced hib-IS-kuhs (/hɪˈbɪskəs/). It has three syllables (Hi-bis-cus), with the stress on "bis". Hibiscus is a flowering plant genus in the mallow family, notable for large, showy blooms and diverse species. As a noun, it refers to any plant in the Hibiscus genus, commonly cultivated for ornamental use and sometimes for edible parts like the calyx. In everyday language, it also appears in tea names (hibiscus tea) and horticultural contexts.
nounHibiscus is a flowering plant genus in the mallow family, notable for large, showy blooms and diverse species. As a noun, it refers to any plant in the Hibiscus genus, commonly cultivated for ornamental use and sometimes for edible parts like the calyx. In everyday language, it also appears in tea names (hibiscus tea) and horticultural contexts.
- You’ll often voice the first vowel as a long /iː/ (like 'high-BIS-kuss' instead of 'hih-BIS-kus'). Keep it short and lax: /ɪ/ in the first syllable. - The middle syllable must carry stress; avoid flattening to /bɪˈsɪs/ or /bɪsɪs/ without clear BIS emphasis. Practice with your tongue at the alveolar ridge to ensure crisp /bɪs/. - Final syllable should be unstressed /kəs/, not /kʌs/ or /kus/. Maintain a light /ə/ or /ɪ/ variant; avoid over-enunciating the ending.
"The hibiscus in the garden burst into bright red flowers this week."
"She brewed a refreshing hibiscus tea with lime and mint."
"The botanical book includes a detailed Hibiscus section, describing a dozen varieties."
Break it into three syllables: hi-BIS-cus. IPA US: /hɪˈbɪs.kəs/, UK: /hɪˈbɪs.kəs/, AU: /ˈhaɪ.bɪˌskəs/ (some speakers reduce vowels). Primary stress is on BIS. Mouth: start with a short, lax 'h' and short 'ɪ' in the first syllable, then a clear 'ˈbɪs' cluster, finishing with 'kəs'.
Two frequent errors: (1) stressing the first syllable (hi-BIS-cus vs. hi-bis-CUS) or misplacing stress on BIS; (2) mispronouncing the final 'cus' as 'cuss' or 'kus' with a hard 's'. Correction: maintain secondary/unstressed first syllable 'hi', place primary stress on BIS, and end with a soft, schwa-like 'kəs' rather than a hard 'cuss'.
US typically /hɪˈbɪs.kəs/ with clear schwa in final syllable; UK often /hɪˈbɪs.kəs/ similar stress, sometimes a slightly crisper final /s/; AU may reduce to /ˈhaɪ.bɪˌskəs/ or /ˈhɪbɪskəs/, with more centralization and vowel reductions in casual speech. The key is keeping BIS stressed and final -cus as /kəs/ rather than /kus/.
The challenge lies in the three-syllable structure with two adjacent consonant clusters (b-s) and a final unstressed syllable that reduces toward /kəs/. Learners often misplace stress, mispronounce the middle vowel as a long /i:/, or over-articulate the final /s/. Focus on a sharp /b/ onset, a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and a light, unstressed /kəs/ ending.
The word follows a typical English three-syllable rhythm with primary stress on the second syllable: hi-BIS-cus. The challenge is keeping the middle syllable prominent without letting it degrade into a schwa too soon, and ensuring the final /kəs/ remains fused and unstressed.
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US: /hɪˈbɪs.kəs/ - keep mid vowel lax and the /k/ as a hard, crisp plosive; non-rhoticity means r-colored vowels aren’t involved. UK: /hɪˈbɪs.kəs/ similar, but may have a slightly crisper final /s/ and less vowel reduction in casual speech. AU: /ˈhaɪ.bɪˌskəs/ or /ˈhɪbɪskəs/; you may hear a longer initial vowel and a more noticeable syllable break in rapid speech. All: stress on BIS; ensure final /kəs/ is unstressed and the vowel before /k/ remains short.
Hibiscus derives from the Latin hibiscus, borrowed from the Greek ἱβίσκος (hibískos), which itself came from ἱβίζω (hibizō) meaning to plant or to throw up shoots—a reference to the plant’s vigorous growth. The term was used by ancient Greek and Roman botanical writers to describe a group of flowering shrubs with prominent stamens. In English, hibiscus entered scientific and horticultural lexicons in the 18th and 19th centuries as taxonomic borrows from Latinized Greek nomenclature. The genus Hibiscus was established by Linnaeus to classify a broad set of related species, including the tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) and various perennial and woody forms. Over time, common usage shifted to reference not only the botanical genus but also popular cultivars and edible varieties whose calyces are used in beverages around the world. The word’s pronunciation evolved with English phonology, maintaining the initial hard “h” and a two-syllable stress pattern often extended to three in some dialects when pronounced as “hi-bis-cus.” First known uses appear in botanical treatises from the 1700s, with broader public recognition by the 19th century as global horticulture and culinary use spread. Today, hibiscus remains a globally recognized plant name, associated with tropical aesthetics, edible calyx drinks, and ornamental landscapes.
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Words that rhyme with "Hibiscus"
-iss sounds
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