3 syllables: Hy, po, crite. Stress on Hy.
HIP-uh-krit
/ˈhɪpəˌkɹɪt/
Hypocrite is pronounced HIP-uh-krit (/ˈhɪpəˌkɹɪt/). It has three syllables (Hy-po-crite), with the stress on "Hy". A hypocrite is a person who pretends to have beliefs, opinions, or virtues that they do not actually possess, often behaving in ways that contradict their stated standards. The term implies deceit or inconsistency between claimed values and real actions, and it is frequently used to criticize moral posturing. It can refer to someone who publicly endorses one set of norms while privately flouting them.
nounA hypocrite is a person who pretends to have beliefs, opinions, or virtues that they do not actually possess, often behaving in ways that contradict their stated standards. The term implies deceit or inconsistency between claimed values and real actions, and it is frequently used to criticize moral posturing. It can refer to someone who publicly endorses one set of norms while privately flouting them.
How to Pronounce Hypocrite
"The politician attacked corruption, but was later exposed as a hypocrite when videos surfaced of him accepting favors."
"Don't be a hypocrite—if you disagree with the rule, say so instead of policing others."
"She warned others about lateness while regularly arriving late herself and others saw her as a hypocrite."
Pronounce as /ˈhɪpəˌkraɪt/ in US/UK/AU. Start with HIN- soft h sound, then a schwa in the second syllable, leading into KRITE with a long I as in ‘kite’. The primary stress is on the first syllable: HÍ-po-prite, then slightly reduce the middle vowel in fast speech. Mouth: lips relaxed, tongue tip near the alveolar ridge for /t/, front vowels prominent. Audio reference: you can compare with pronunciations on Cambridge or Forvo to hear regional nuances.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing the stress, pronouncing as hypOcrITE with final stress. (2) Slurring the middle syllable into a quick ‘ə’ making it ‘hip-ə-krite’ without clear /ə/ duration. (3) Mispronouncing /praɪt/ as /prɪt/ or /kraɪt/ losing the /ə/ in the second syllable. Corrections: keep a clear second-syllable schwa /ə/ before /kraɪt/, ensure the /kr/ cluster is released with a little puff of air, and maintain primary stress on the first syllable. Listen to native sources and practice slow, then speed up.
In US/UK/AU the pronunciation remains /ˈhɪpəˌkraɪt/ with the same phonemes, but vowel quality and intonation can vary. US tends to rhoticity in connected speech and may reduce the first syllable slightly; UK often preserves clearer entranced /ɪ/ and temporal lobe of r-colouring is less pronounced in non-rhotic contexts. Australian tends toward broader vowels with a more open /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a slightly higher /aɪ/ diphthong in the final. IPA remains consistent; listen for subtle vowel length and pitch shifts across dialects.
The difficulty comes from the three-syllable structure with a stressed first syllable and a later diphthong in the final syllable. The /ˈhɪpə/ part has a light, quick vowel in the middle, while /kraɪt/ requires a distinct rise from /ə/ to /aɪ/. The /p/ and /k/ clusters demand clean release, and the sequence /pəˌk/ can be challenging if you’re not separating syllables. Practice with slow enunciation and anchor your tongue for /p/ and /k/ to avoid assimilation.
Is the middle syllable a schwa in all accents, or can it be pronounced as a reduced /ə/ or as /ɪ/? In most dialects you’ll hear a reduced /ə/ in the second syllable: hɪ-pə- kraɪt, though rapid speech may slightly reduce it. The primary challenge is sustaining the /ə/ before /kraɪt/ without compressing the /r/ quality or the /aɪ/ diphthong. Listening to region-specific samples can help you lock the intended rhythm and vowel length.
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Hypocrite comes from the Middle English hypocrite, ultimately from the Late Latin hypocrita, from the Greek hypokritēs meaning actor or dissembler. The Greek term is a compound of hypo- ‘under’ and krinein ‘to judge’ or ‘to decide,’ and was originally used to describe actors in ancient Greek theatre who played roles different from their true selves. In classical rhetoric, hypokrites referred to someone who pretends to have certain beliefs or moral positions for public performance. By the 16th century, English adopted hypocrite to mean a person who feigns virtue or piety. The sense broadened from moral pretense to any professional or public display of beliefs at odds with private conduct. Over time, the word kept its negative connotation of deception and duplicity, entering everyday usage to criticize perceived moral incongruities in politics, religion, or personal life. The phonology shifted with English adoption, but the core idea—one who wears a mask of virtue while concealing real imperfection—remains constant. First known use in English is documented in the 15th–16th centuries, aligning with the Christian moralizing themes of early modern Europe where public virtue and private vice were frequently juxtaposed. Today, hypocrite is a widely understood term in many varieties of English with similar implications across cultures: a person who performs virtue publicly yet acts contrary to those declared beliefs in private.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hypocrite" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Hypocrite"
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