3 syllables: Ho, bo, ken. Stress on Ho.
HOH-boh-kuhn
/ˈhoʊboʊkən/
Hoboken is pronounced HOH-boh-kuhn (/ˈhoʊboʊkən/). It has three syllables (Ho-bo-ken), with the stress on "Ho". Hoboken is a proper noun for a city in New Jersey, commonly used in American English. It refers to a specific place and, by extension, to its cultural associations. The name itself is used in everyday speech, travel contexts, and local references, often capitalized and treated as a singular entity.
nounHoboken is a proper noun for a city in New Jersey, commonly used in American English. It refers to a specific place and, by extension, to its cultural associations. The name itself is used in everyday speech, travel contexts, and local references, often capitalized and treated as a singular entity.
How to Pronounce Hoboken
"I grew up near Hoboken and still visit the waterfront."
"The Hoboken city council will meet Thursday to discuss the development plan."
"She booked a weekend in Hoboken to explore the skyline across the river."
Phonetically, Hoboken is /ˈhɒbəˌkɛn/ for US English, with three syllables where the first is stressed. In careful speech say HO-bə-kən, but many speakers reduce to HO-bə-kən? The standard is HO-bo-ken with a light second syllable and a clear 'ken' ending. Listen to native speakers or a pronunciation tool to hear the rhythm; the main challenge is the unstressed second syllable and the 'ken' ending.
Common errors: 1) Stressing the second syllable instead of the first (ho-BO-ken). 2) Pronouncing the ending as 'keen' or 'ken' with a strong vowel rather than a reduced schwa at the middle. Correction: emphasize HO as the stressed syllable, reduce the middle to a soft schwa, and finish with a light 'ken' rather than 'keen'.
In US English, the first syllable carries primary stress with a schwa in the middle: HO-bə-kən. UK English tends to be slightly less rhotic in some regions and might compress the middle vowel more, still keeping HO- buh- ken. Australian tends to reduce the middle vowel similarly, with a slightly broader 'o' in the first syllable and a flatter ending: HO-buh-kən. Auditory cues matter: listen to regional speakers.
The challenge lies in the unstressed middle vowel and the sonority of the 'k' plus 'ən' ending. Many speakers misplace the primary stress on the second syllable or pronounce the ending as 'een' or 'een' instead of the short 'ən.' Focus on a crisp HO, a quick, neutral schwa in the second syllable, and a light, unaccented 'ken'.
Hoboken features a trisyllabic pattern with a strong first syllable and a reduced middle, followed by a final 'ken' that can sound like 'kən' rather than 'keen' in steady speech. The name’s tonal profile in American English benefits from a clear onset 'H' followed by a short /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ in the first syllable, then a neutralized second syllable and a light final consonant cluster.
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US: HO-bə-kən with strong first syllable; rhotic and clearer 'ə' in the middle; US tends to a more pronounced 'ɒ' or 'ɑ' depending on speaker. UK: HO-bə-kən with tighter vowels and often reduced middle; non-rhotic accents may blur the 'r' not present. AU: HO-bə-kən with a broader first vowel and a relatively flat ending; slight vowel reduction occurs in the middle. IPA references given above.
Hoboken originates from the Lenape language, spoken by Indigenous peoples of the Delaware Valley, with the name adopted by Dutch and later American settlers. The earliest European use appears in 17th-century records as Hobukens or similar variants, reflecting a possible Lenape toponymization or descriptive term. The precise meaning is debated, but it is generally tied to a geographic feature or a family name. The modern spelling Hoboken emerged under Dutch influence in New Amsterdam (present-day New York) and became standardized as the name of the New Jersey city in the 19th and 20th centuries as it grew with industrialization and immigration. The word has since remained a proper noun with strong local identity and international recognition due to proximity to New York City and its cultural associations.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hoboken" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Hoboken" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Hoboken"
-ken sounds
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