2 syllables: Hu, man. Stress on Hu.
HYOO-muhn
/ˈhjumən/
Human is pronounced HYOO-muhn (/ˈhjumən/). It has two syllables (Hu-man), with the stress on "Hu". Human is a common noun referring to a member of the species Homo sapiens or, more broadly, a person. It denotes the biological and social being with rational faculties, emotions, and social needs. In everyday use, it covers people in general or a particular individual, often contrasted with animal or non-human concepts.
nounHuman is a common noun referring to a member of the species Homo sapiens or, more broadly, a person. It denotes the biological and social being with rational faculties, emotions, and social needs. In everyday use, it covers people in general or a particular individual, often contrasted with animal or non-human concepts.
How to Pronounce Human
"The human brain is capable of remarkable creativity."
"As a human, you’ll sometimes make mistakes and learn from them."
"We studied how humans adapt to varying climates."
US/UK/AU pronunciation is the same: /ˈhjuː.mən/. Begin with a clear /h/ breath, glide into /j/ as in you, then a long /uː/ vowel, followed by a schwa-like or light /ə/ in the second syllable and final /mən/ cluster. Stress falls on the first syllable: H yu-man. In rapid speech you may hear a slightly reduced final syllable, but the two-syllable pattern remains recognizable.
Common errors include saying /ˈhjuː.mæn/ with a tense, open /æ/ in the second syllable or dropping the /j/ glide to produce /ˈhuː.mən/. Another frequent slip is unstressed first syllable reduction, delivering /ˈhən/ or /ˈhumən/ without the correct /juː/ transition. To correct, practice the /h/ + /j/ glide: feel air between lips and tongue as you move from /h/ to /j/; ensure the second syllable uses a lax /ə/ (schwa) or /ən/ rather than a full /æ/ or /eɪ/.
In most dialects, the first syllable retains the /juː/ sound after /h/. US and UK share /ˈhjuː.mən/; Australians also use /ˈhjuː.mən/ but with a slightly different vowel quality in the /ˈjuː/ and more rhotacism in some phrases. Rhotic accents may show a clearer /r/ only when followed by a vowel; in human, the /r/ is not present, but neighboring words can influence clarity. Vowel duration and consonant crispness vary: US often has a slightly longer /uː/ and a more pronounced final /ən/; UK tends toward a relaxed /ə/ and a softer /mən/.
Key challenges include producing the /h/ breath onset distinctly, the /j/ glide immediately after, and the long /uː/ for the first vowel before a short /mən/ cluster. The second syllable uses a lax, reduced vowel (schwa) that can be mispronounced as /æ/ or /eɪ/ by learners. Native listeners rely on the /juː/ sequence and the light, quick /ən/ ending; misplacing tongue tension or elongating the final /ən/ can obscure the word’s natural rhythm and distinct two-syllable pattern.
People often search for the distinction between /ˈhjuː.mən/ and /ˈhjuː.mæn/; focusing on the correct /ə/ in the second syllable and the absence of a strong /æ/ vowel is essential. This word also highlights how the /j/ glide blends with a rounded /uː/ vowel, forming a characteristic /juː/ sequence not present in many two-syllable words. Emphasize the two-syllable structure and the unstressed, quick final syllable when teaching or learning.
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The word human comes from the Latin humanus, meaning 'of man, humane, refined,' which itself derives from humus, meaning 'ground, earth.' The path from Latin to English traverses Old French and Middle English during the medieval period. Humanus originally carried the sense of cultured or civilized, related to man or mankind, rather than merely biological attributes. In English, the spelling and pronunciation solidified in the late medieval period as Middle English humans, later stabilizing to the modern form human. The broader sense of ‘a person’ or ‘mortal’ emerged as religious and philosophical discourse distinguished humans from animals, gods, and spirits. In the modern era, human is used both as a count noun and in compound forms (human rights, inhuman, human-made), expanding from a biological label to a social and philosophical category. Its first known use in English traces to the 14th century, with early appearances in writings discussing human nature and morality, evolving through Renaissance humanism where emphasis on human faculties and dignity shaped the contemporary usage. The term remains central to discussions of psychology, sociology, ethics, and anthropology, reflecting both our biological roots and complex social identities.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Human" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Human" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Human"
-man sounds
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