2 syllables: hy, per. Stress on hy.
HEYE-pur
/ˈhaɪpɚ/
hyper is pronounced HEYE-pur (/ˈhaɪpɚ/). It has two syllables (hy-per), with the stress on "hy". Hyper is an adjective meaning extremely or excessively energetic, excited, or intense. In everyday use it often describes rapid tempo, heightened emotion, or amplified intensity, as in tech slang or medical shorthand (“hyperactive”). It can also function as a prefix in compounds to indicate excess, such as hyperbole or hyperdrive. The term frequently appears in casual, modern speech and media contexts.
Hyper is an adjective meaning extremely or excessively energetic, excited, or intense. In everyday use it often describes rapid tempo, heightened emotion, or amplified intensity, as in tech slang or medical shorthand (“hyperactive”). It can also function as a prefix in compounds to indicate excess, such as hyperbole or hyperdrive. The term frequently appears in casual, modern speech and media contexts.
"She felt hyper after the enthusiastic crowd cheered."
"The marketing campaign was hyperactive, rushing from one idea to the next."
"In neuroscience, hyperactivity can refer to unusually high activity levels in neurons."
Pronounce it as /ˈhaɪ.pər/ in US and UK; the first syllable carries main stress. The vowels are /aɪ/ as in 'high' and a schwa /ər/ or /ə/ in unstressed Final. In careful speech, end with a light, unstressed /ɚ/ or /ə/. Audio reference: search ‘hyper pronunciation’ on Forvo or YouGlish for native speaker models.
Common mistakes: overpronouncing the second syllable as /-er/ with a full /ɜːr/ or /ɝ/; misplacing stress on the second syllable; or flattening the /aɪ/ to a shorter /ɪ/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈhaɪ/ and reduce /pər/ to a quick /pər/ or /pɚ/, using a light schwa or /ə/.
US: /ˈhaɪ.pɚ/ with rhotic /ɚ/. UK: /ˈhaɪ.pə/ usually non-rhotic ending; AU: /ˈhaɪ.pə/ similar to UK with a lighter vowel in the second syllable. The first syllable vowel /aɪ/ remains consistent. Rhoticity mainly affects the final vowel: /ɚ/ in US vs /ə/ or reduced vowel in UK/AU.
Difficulties center on the quick, reduced final syllable /pər/ vs a full vowel; mastering the /aɪ/ glide and reducing the second syllable to a schwa without losing clarity; maintaining stress on the first syllable in rapid speech; and ensuring the final /r/ is not overemphasized in non-rhotic accents. Focus on transcribing to /ˈhaɪ.pər/ and practicing linking to following words.
The second syllable is often a quick, unstressed schwa (/ə/ or /ər/) that blends with the following word in connected speech. In careful speech you can retain a light /ɚ/; in casual speech, it reduces toward /ə/. This nuance affects listening comprehension: you’ll hear a shorter, softer ending when rapid or settled after consonants, particularly before vowel-initial words.
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Hyper derives from the Greek word hyper-, meaning ‘over,’ ‘beyond,’ or ‘excessive,’ which also yields hyperbole and hyperactive. In Early Modern English, the prefix carried the sense of excess or extreme in science and philosophy or as a intensifier in medical discourse. The shift into general slang and everyday usage accelerated in the late 20th century with tech and media, where “hyper-” described rapid, amplified states (hyperlink, hyperdrive, hyperfast). The term’s popularity grew in pop culture and advertising, where it signals intensity or superlative degrees. First known uses appear in scientific and literary contexts in 19th- to early 20th-century English texts, with the prefix repeatedly adopted in psychological, neurological, and digital domains before becoming a staple in colloquial speech. By the late 20th century, hyper entered mainstream vocabulary, often as a standalone adjective or noun in informal speech and marketing rhetoric, retaining its sense of superlative intensity. Today, hyper is both a productive prefix and a standalone adjective used across disciplines and genres, from clinical to colloquial.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hyper" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "hyper" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "hyper"
-per sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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