One syllable: hot.
haht
/hɑt/
hot is pronounced haht (/hɑt/). It has one syllable (hot), with the stress on "hot". Hot is an adjective describing high temperature or strong heat, as in weather, objects, or feelings of intensity. It can also imply current relevance or desirability in informal speech. In different contexts, it conveys literal warmth or figurative intensity (e.g., hot news, hot topic).
adjectiveHot is an adjective describing high temperature or strong heat, as in weather, objects, or feelings of intensity. It can also imply current relevance or desirability in informal speech. In different contexts, it conveys literal warmth or figurative intensity (e.g., hot news, hot topic).
"The soup is hot, be careful not to burn your tongue."
"On a scorching day, the pavement feels hot underfoot."
"That new smartphone is selling fast; it’s a hot item."
Pronounce it as /hɑt/ in US and /hɒt/ in UK/AU. The initial /h/ is a light breathy sound, followed by a short open vowel (US /ɑ/ as in ‘father’; UK/AU /ɒ/ as in ‘hot’ in non-rhotic accents). End with a crisp /t/ without releasing into a vowel. Aim for a quick, singular syllable with minimal diphthong movement. Listen to native examples and mimic the mouth shape: open jaw, relaxed lips, and explosive /t/ closure.
Common errors include pronouncing as /hoʊt/ with a long /oʊ/ diphthong (not native to many dialects for this word), or turning it into /hæt/ with a short /æ/ vowel as in ‘cat’. Another mistake is adding an extra vowel like /hɔt/ in some dialects. To correct: keep the vowel as a short open vowel (/ɑ/ US or /ɒ/ UK/AU), maintain a single, crisp /t/. Practice by isolating the vowel and stopping the air cleanly at the /t/ boundary.
US tends to use /hɑt/ with a lax open back unrounded /ɑ/. UK/AU favor /hɒt/ with a shorter, more rounded back vowel and less rhoticity influence. In some UK varieties, non-rhoticity makes the final /t/ sound more plosive and less followed by a rhotic vowel. Australians often have a slightly fronted /ɒ/ and a clipped, precise /t/. Across all, the initial /h/ remains breathy, but vowel quality and rhoticity affect overall timbre and duration.
The main challenge is producing the short, closed vowel without slipping into a schwa or a longer diphthong. The /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ requires a quick jaw drop and a precise tongue position. The final /t/ should be a released stop rather than a nasal or clipped sound; many speakers insert a tiny vowel or glottal stop in casual speech. Mastery comes from practicing the single-syllable rhythm and crisp closure with steady airflow.
Focus on the transition from the vowel to the final /t/: avoid lip rounding or vowel length variation. Use a quick, decisive tongue contact for /t/ just behind the alveolar ridge. In slow practice, say “h-ah-t” with a brief hold on the vowel, then progressively reduce the vowel duration until you land on a crisp, single-syllable /hɑt/ or /hɒt/. This helps stabilize the rhythm across dialects.
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Hot traces to Old English haet or hāt meaning heated, furious, or kindled, rooted in Proto-Germanic hatizan (attested in related languages as haþ). The Proto-Indo-European root *kaj-/*kad- conveys heat or warmth. By Middle English, hot described physical warmth and, by extension, intensity or urgency. The word broadened to metaphorical domains (hot topic, hot temper) in the early modern period as commerce and sensational news intensified. In American English, hot also acquired slang-driven nuances around desirability and trendiness in the late 19th to 20th centuries, evolving into phrases like “hot commodity” and “hot new release.” The recurring sense across eras remains anchored in conspicuous warmth or energy, with metaphorical uses expanding as social and technological landscapes evolved.
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Words that rhyme with "hot"
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