3 syllables: Ho, ro, scope. Stress on Ho.
HAW-ruh-skohp
/ˈhɔɹəˌskoʊp/
Horoscope is pronounced HAW-ruh-skohp (/ˈhɔɹəˌskoʊp/). It has three syllables (Ho-ro-scope), with the stress on "Ho". A horoscope is a forecast of a person’s future made by interpreting the positions and movements of celestial bodies, typically issued daily, weekly, or monthly. It offers generalized guidance based on zodiac signs and astrological beliefs. In astrology, it’s used to comment on personality traits, opportunities, and potential challenges, often accompanied by advice.
nounA horoscope is a forecast of a person’s future made by interpreting the positions and movements of celestial bodies, typically issued daily, weekly, or monthly. It offers generalized guidance based on zodiac signs and astrological beliefs. In astrology, it’s used to comment on personality traits, opportunities, and potential challenges, often accompanied by advice.
How to Pronounce Horoscope
"I read my horoscope every morning to set a positive intention for the day."
"Her horoscope suggested caution in financial decisions this week."
"The newspaper printed a light-hearted horoscope for all zodiac signs."
Horoscope is typically spoken as HOH-ruh-skohp in US and UK accents, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈhɔːrəˌskoʊp/, UK /ˈhɒrəˌskeɪp/. For Australian speakers, you’ll hear a similar pattern, commonly /ˈhɒrəˌskəʊp/. Break it into two parts: HOR-o-scope, where the 'oro' is reduced to an /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ vowel, then a long 'scope' ending. Start with an open back vowel, then glide to a rounded back vowel in the final syllable. Keep the 'p' release crisp but not explosive.
Common errors include overpronouncing the middle syllable as 'or-OH' or flattening it into a schwa. Another mistake is misplacing the stress, saying ho-RO-scope instead of HOH-ruh-scope. Also, some pronounce the final 'p' too forcefully, creating a clipped or aspirated ending. Correct by pairing the syllables as HOH-ruh-skohp, ensuring the first syllable carries the main emphasis and the middle is light, with a smooth transition into the final long 'ohp' sound.
In US English, the first syllable carries strong stress and the final vowel in 'cope' is a long /oʊ/ with a clear /p/. UK English often uses a slightly shorter /ɒ/ in the first vowel and may realize the second syllable as /rəˈskəʊp/, with a rounded 'o' in 'cope'. Australian speakers tend toward an even flatter 'o' in the middle and a clearer /əʊ/ in the final part, but keep the primary stress on the first syllable. Overall, rhoticity is typically present in US but less so in UK; UK and AU may tilt vowels toward non-rhotic patterns in rapid speech.
Two main challenges: the middle 'ro' can blur into a schwa if you’re not careful, and the final 'scope' ends with a long, tense /oʊp/ sequence that can turn into /ɒp/ or /əʊp/ depending on locale. The sequence HOH-ruh-skope demands careful vowel differentiation: /ˈhɔːrə/ vs /ˈhɒrə/ plus /ˈskoʊp/ or /ˈskeɪp/. Practicing with minimal pairs that contrast /ɔː/ vs /ɒ/ and /oʊ/ vs /eɪ/ helps solidify accuracy.
The 'r' is pronounced in rhotic accents (US and much of Canada) as a standard rhotic /ɹ/ sound in the middle syllable: /ˈhɔːrə/. In many non-rhotic accents (some UK varieties), the /r/ in 'hor' is either not pronounced as a postvocalic /ɹ/ or is softened within the syllable, so it may sound closer to /ˈhɒrə/ followed by /skoʊp/ or /skeɪp/. For Australian speech, you’ll typically hear a postvocalic /ɹ/ less prominent, producing a sound near /ˈhɒrəˌskəʊp/.
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The word horoscope comes from the Greek words horos (hour, time) and scopos (watcher, observer, see). In ancient Greek, this referred to the watching of hours or time-based phenomena, but in astrology, horos (hours) and skopos (observer) merged to describe the practice of observing celestial configurations at given times to predict terrestrial events. The earliest astrological horoscopes trace from Hellenistic astrology in the 2nd century BCE, where astrologers cast planetary positions to interpret fate. Latin writers adopted the term as horoscopus, then it entered various European languages with similar forms. The modern sense—an individualized forecast based on birth chart and current planetary movements—emerged in the medieval and early modern periods, becoming central to popular astrology in the 19th and 20th centuries. Over time, horoscope compilations shifted from overt fate-as-destiny readings to more generalized guidance, entertainment, and self-reflection tools in newspapers and magazines, and later online platforms. The term today signals both a specific astrological prediction tied to a zodiac sign and a broader genre of interpretive readings that connect celestial patterns to personal tendencies and daily choices.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Horoscope" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Horoscope"
-ope sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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