2 syllables: hun, dred. Stress on hun.
HUHN-druhd
/ˈhʌndɹəd/
hundred is pronounced HUHN-druhd (/ˈhʌndɹəd/). It has two syllables (hun-dred), with the stress on "hun". Hundred refers to the number 100. It can function as a cardinal noun or a quantifier in phrases like cash-in-hand or a hundred dollars. In everyday use it also appears in expressions such as “a hundred percent” and in historical contexts like “hundreds of years.” The term is commonly pronounced compactly in connected speech, often with subtle reductions in casual speech.
Hundred refers to the number 100. It can function as a cardinal noun or a quantifier in phrases like cash-in-hand or a hundred dollars. In everyday use it also appears in expressions such as “a hundred percent” and in historical contexts like “hundreds of years.” The term is commonly pronounced compactly in connected speech, often with subtle reductions in casual speech.
"A hundred people gathered for the town meeting."
"She donated a hundred dollars to the charity."
"The athlete ran a hundred meters in under ten seconds."
Pronounce it as /ˈhʌn.drɪd/ in US and UK English, with the first syllable stressed. The 'h' is breathy, 'un' sounds like 'uh' with a short schwa-neutral vowel, the second syllable uses a reduced 'dred' where the /r/ is less prominent in non-rhotic accents. In Australian English you’ll hear /ˈhʌn.dɹɪd/, with a postvocalic /ɹ/ similar to US but slightly softer. Practice by saying: HUN-dred, then quickly connect to the next word. IPA references: US /ˈhʌn.drɪd/, UK /ˈhʌn.dɹɪd/, AU /ˈhʌn.dɹɪd/.
Two frequent errors: (1) Overpronouncing the second syllable, saying /ˈhʌn.drɪd/ with a strong /dɹ/ blend; keep it lighter as /ˈhʌn.dɹɪd/. (2) Treating it as /ˈhʌndɜːd/ or misplacing the vowel in the first syllable; aim for a short /ʌ/ as in 'hut'. Also watch for linking to following consonants in connected speech, which can blur the /d/ sound. Short, quick /d/ at the end helps clarity.
US/UK/AU share the /ˈhʌn.dɹɪd/ core. The main difference is rhoticity and vowel sharpness: US is rhotic with a clear /ɹ/; UK often drops post-vocalic r in non-rhotic varieties and may have a slightly reduced second syllable; AU is typically non-rhotic similar to UK but with a flatter vowel and sometimes a less pronounced /ɹ/. Rapidity and flapping in some American dialects may make the /d/ softer. Overall, you’ll hear similar rhythm, but the r-color and vowel quality vary subtly.
The challenge lies in the two-consonant cluster at the syllable boundary (/nd/ and /dr/ in rapid speech) and the final /d/’s light release. The /ˈhʌn/ onset requires a short, relaxed vowel followed by a quick, alveolar release into the /dɹɪd/ portion. Non-rhotic listeners may reduce the /r/; rhotic speakers must maintain an audible /ɹ/. Mastery comes from practicing the flow between syllables and avoiding over-articulation of either syllable.
The key uniqueness is the two-stage onset: a clear /h/ onset and a rapid fluid transition from /n/ to /dɹ/ into /ɪd/. This creates the characteristic HUN-dred rhythm. Focus on a gentle stop between /n/ and /d/ and a light /ɹ/ in rhotic accents, avoiding a heavy release. Listening to native speech and mimicking the tempo will help solidify the pattern.
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US: Emphasize rhotic /ɹ/ clarity; keep /ʌ/ steady and the /nd/ cluster tight. UK: Non-rhotic tendency; the /r/ is often silent; the /ɹ/ becomes an alveolar approximant quality. AU: Similar to US with slightly flatter vowels and less pronounced r-coloring. In all: aim for a quick /d/ release into /ɹɪd/ or /dɹɪd/ with minimal vowel expansion. IPA cues: US /ˈhʌn.dɹɪd/, UK /ˈhʌn.dɹɪd/, AU /ˈhʌn.dɹɪd/.
The word hundred comes from the Old English hundred, from the Germanic root *hund* meaning ‘ten’ and the Latinate suffix -ed. The term originally described a unit of measurement used in early Germanic legal and military contexts, often tied to a grouping of ten dozens or other social divisions. In Proto-Germanic, *hund* likely related to the idea of a large, rounded number used in taxation and governance, evolving in Middle English with the sense of exactly 100. The modern spelling retained the -d, while pronunciation became a simple /ˈhʌndɹɪd/ in most dialects, with slight vowel and r-coloration differences across regions. First known use in English literature traces to the 9th-11th centuries, mirroring similar numerals in Germanic languages. Over time, the term broadened into common measurement (100 items), mathematical reference (100 as a base), and fixed expressions (hundredfold, hundred-year periods). The semantic range shifted from a numeric unit to an idiomatic quantity in everyday language, preserving its core sense of a large, precise grouping while expanding into phrases and idioms that rely on 100 as a culturally salient benchmark.
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Words that rhyme with "hundred"
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