2 syllables: Hic, cough. Stress on Hic.
HIK-uhp
/ˈhɪkəp/
Hiccough is pronounced HIK-uhp (/ˈhɪkəp/). It has two syllables (Hic-cough), with the stress on "Hic". Hiccough is a noun referring to a sudden, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm followed by a rapid closure of the glottis, producing the characteristic 'hic' sound. The term is an older, more formal variant of 'hiccup' and is used in medical, technical, or literary contexts to describe this reflex event or the sound itself.
nounHiccough is a noun referring to a sudden, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm followed by a rapid closure of the glottis, producing the characteristic 'hic' sound. The term is an older, more formal variant of 'hiccup' and is used in medical, technical, or literary contexts to describe this reflex event or the sound itself.
How to Pronounce Hiccough
"The patient experienced a prolonged hiccough after the procedure."
"She couldn't sleep because of a stubborn hiccough that lasted for hours."
"The old doctor preferred the term 'hiccough' in his notes, not 'hiccup'."
Pronounce as /ˈhɪkˌɒp/. The first syllable is stressed: HIC-kop with a drawn-out 'ic' and short, clipped 'kop'. The 'cc' is not pronounced as a hard 'c' but as part of the /k/ cluster before the /ɒp/ ending. Listen to native medical voices for audio reference, then mimic breathy onset and glottal stop lightly at the tense boundary.
Common errors: (1) pronouncing it as 'hic-cu-p' with an extra syllable; (2) turning the second vowel into a long /u/ or /ju/ sound; (3) neglecting the second syllable stress, saying 'HICC-up' or 'hic-COP'. Correct by sticking to /ˈhɪkˌɒp/, reducing the middle vowel length, and ensuring a crisp /ɒ/ followed by /p/. Practice with minimal pairs and slowed tempo.
In US, UK, and AU, the primary stress remains on the first syllable: /ˈhɪkˌɒp/. Vowel quality slight variations: US tends to reduce /ɒ/ toward /ɑ/ in rapid speech; UK may maintain a clearer /ɒ/; AU often aligns with UK but can be influenced by American tempo. The rhoticity doesn’t drastically affect hiccough. Focus is on the short /ɪ/ and the rounded /ɒ/ leading into /p/.
It combines a quick breathing-induced glottal event with a short, rounded vowel followed by a plosive. The hard /p/ immediately after a nasalized or clipped consonant boundary makes timing critical. Additionally, speakers may substitute with the simpler 'hiccup' form, affecting rhythm. Concentrate on the crisp onset /h/ + short /ɪ/, then the rounded /ɒ/ before /p/.
A key feature is the two-syllable rhythm with strong first-syllable stress and a compact second syllable ending in a stop consonant. Unlike many English words, the vowel sequence here is tight: /ˈhɪk/ followed by /ɒp/. The sequence relies on precise tongue position for /ɪ/ then /ɒ/ and a swift closure to produce /p/. Practicing with choppy syllable breaks helps you lock the pattern.
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The word hiccough traces to Old English hiccian and later Middle English forms, reflecting an onomatopoeic imitation of the hiccup sound. The exact origin is debated, but the term entered medical English by the 16th century, capturing a reflex action of the diaphragm and glottis. The spelling hiccough became conventional in British English and some formal medical contexts, while 'hiccup' emerged as the more common, simplified variant in modern American usage. Historically, variations such as hiccough and hiccup appeared alongside terms for coughing and spasm, often used interchangeably in older texts. The semantic core attached to hiccough is the involuntary, episodic nature of the diaphragmatic contraction and the audible sound produced, which over centuries has made it a familiar, if slightly antiquated, term in both clinical and literary writing.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hiccough" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Hiccough" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Hiccough"
-uck sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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