3 syllables: ke, hin, de. Stress on hin.
/keˈhɪndə/
Say it backKehinde is a masculine given name of Yoruba origin meaning 'the second to be born' or 'the younger one who comes again.' It is used in Yoruba-speaking communities and by people of Yoruba descent, often as part of a compound name. The term carries cultural identity and can appear in both informal and formal contexts, frequently in African diaspora communities.
"Kehinde was invited to speak at the cultural festival."
"She introduced her friend Kehinde, who shared stories from Lagos."
"In the naming ceremony, Kehinde was celebrated as the second-born son."
Pronounce it as ke-HIN-day, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: /kɛˈhɪn.deɪ/ (US/UK approximations). Start with a clear 'ke' as in 'ket,' then a stressed 'hin' with a short 'i' as in 'sit,' and finish with a long 'day' as in 'day.' Ensure the vowels stay pure and the 'h' is audible but not aspirated as a strong fricative. End with a relaxed 'de' sound.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable instead of the second (ke-HIN-de), mispronouncing the mid vowel as a lax schwa rather than a clear short i (ɪ), and truncating the final -deɪ into a quick 'dee' (dɪ) or 'day' but with reduced clarity. To correct: keep the nucleus in the second syllable as a crisp ɪ, place primary stress on the second syllable, and finish with a clear /deɪ/ rather than /di/.
In US English, you’ll often hear /kəˈhɪn.deɪ/ with a reduced initial vowel and a clear /ɪ/ in the second syllable. UK English preserves closer vowels and may retain a slightly more clipped final -eɪ, with /kɛˈhɪn.deɪ/ depending on speaker. Australian speakers typically maintain the mid vowel quality but may have a less rhotic influence; expect /kəˈhɪn.deɪ/ or /kəˈhɪn.dæɪ/ depending on region and speaker. The key across accents is the second-syllable stress and the final /deɪ/.
The difficulty lies in maintaining the second-syllable stress while articulating a clean, tense /ɪ/ vowel and a precise final /deɪ/. Non-native English speakers may default to a weaker mid-vowel or misplace stress on the first syllable. Another challenge is preserving the Yoruba-influenced consonantal timing—don’t let the /h/ create unintended aspiration or the /k/ coalesce with the following /h/ sound. Focus on segment clarity and consistent rhythm.
Does the name ‘kehinde’ ever appear with diacritics in Yoruba, and how does that affect pronunciation? The standard English rendering uses kehinde without diacritics, but Yoruba uses tone marks that indicate pitch. When diacritics are present (e.g., kéhiǹdẹ̀), you would reflect tonal contours (high-low patterns) in pronunciation. In common usage, you’ll still stress the second syllable with /ˈhɪn/ and end with /deɪ/, but Yoruba tone would shape musicality rather than altering the phonemic sequence.
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US: Reduced initial vowel, strong /ɪ/ in the second, standard -deɪ ending; UK: slightly crisper consonants, /k/ released, /ˈhɪn.deɪ/; AU: vowel quality spread, slightly broader diphthong on the final syllable; general rule: keep second syllable stress and final /deɪ/ as a distinct diphthong. IPA references: /kɛˈhɪn.deɪ/ (US/UK approximations).
Kehinde is a Yoruba language given name formed from a traditional naming practice associated with birth order. Yoruba, a Niger-Congo language spoken predominantly in southwestern Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, uses compound names that convey circumstances surrounding birth. Kehinde combines elements implying ‘the second’ or ‘the one who comes after’ and is often paired with the name ‘Kola’ or ‘Olukehinde’ to mark social and familial roles. Historically, Yoruba naming conventions after birth are deeply tied to ritual, lineage, and ancestral respect. The firstborn son is traditionally named ‘Ondọ́’ or ‘Ọmọ́kàn,’ while the second-born may be given Kehinde, signaling a second arrival within a particular family or setting. The word’s first known usage in written Yoruba appears in 19th- to early 20th-century sources documenting Yoruba naming customs, colonial-era missionary writings, and later Nigerian literature. The name has since spread across the African diaspora, often used without diacritics in English-language contexts, and occasionally adapted in spelling as Kehinde or Kehendi. Its cultural meaning remains tied to birth order, family roles, and Yoruba identity, even as it is used globally in contemporary African and diaspora communities.
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Words that rhyme with "kehinde"
-nse sounds
-nce sounds
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