Zacchaeus is a proper noun referring to a biblical figure, typically a short tax collector described in the New Testament. The name is used in religious and scholarly contexts and as a proper name in English-speaking communities. It is pronounced with three syllables and an initial stressed syllable, often appearing in sermons, liturgy, and biblical studies.
"In Sunday school, the story of Zacchaeus is told to illustrate transformation."
"Scholars discuss Zacchaeus’s role among the crowd and Jesus’s outreach."
"The choir intoned Zacchaeus’s name during the scripture reading."
"A sermon highlighted Zacchaeus’s determination to see Jesus despite the crowd."
Zacchaeus derives from a Greek form Zachaios (Ζακχαῖος), itself a variant of the Hebrew name Zechariah or Zaccai, linked to the root tzadi-ḥa-yin (צָצַה) associated with memory or remembrance. The Latinized Zacchaeus appears in early Christian writings to identify the tax collector of Jericho who encountered Jesus. Over time, the name entered English through the Greek New Testament manuscripts and Latin Vulgate translations, maintaining its Greek-based vowel pattern and three-syllable rhythm. The first known uses in English-language Bibles trace to the 16th century in Protestant Bible translations; the pronunciation has preserved a stress on the first syllable and a final “-eus” or “-aeus” adaptation, depending on tradition. The etymological thread shows the name’s Hebrew to Greek adaptation, then Latin, and finally into English usage as a biblical proper noun with a slightly Anglicized final vowel sound in standard pronunciation.
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Words that rhyme with "Zacchaeus"
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Pronounce as za-CKY-us with three syllables and primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌzækˈkeɪ.əs/ (US/UK). Start with /z/ then /æ/ as in cat, followed by a stressed /ˈkeɪ/ (as in cage), and end with /əs/. The “chaeus” part sounds like 'kay-us.' Tip: put more emphasis on the second syllable and keep the final schwa short.
Common errors: (1) Stress misplacement, saying za-CKE-us instead of za-CKAY-us; (2) Flattening the diphthong /eɪ/ to a plain /e/ or /ɛ/; (3) Ending with an overlong /uː/ or /juː/ instead of a quiet /əs/. Correction: keep the /keɪ/ as a distinct diphthong, stress the second syllable, and reduce the final vowel to a light schwa /ə/ or /əs/ in fluent speech.
US/UK/AU differences: US and UK place primary stress on the second syllable; US may reduce the final /əs/ more than UK, and UK often softens /æ/ to a slightly sharper /æ/ depending on region. Australian often mirrors US vowels but with a flatter /æ/ in the first vowel and a slightly longer /ɒ/ or /a/ in some speakers. Across all, the second syllable /keɪ/ remains the strongest element.
Difficulties stem from the tripartite syllable division and the /keɪ/ diphthong in the second syllable combined with a final unstressed /əs/. Non-native speakers often misplace the stress, swap /æ/ for a lax vowel, or add extra syllables. The key is maintaining a crisp /ˈkeɪ/ nucleus, then a light /əs/ finishing sound. Practicing with minimal pairs and focused stress helps stabilize it.
Yes. In Zacchaeus, the 'ae' sequence in the second syllable represents the long vowel /eɪ/ as in cake. It’s not /aɪ/ (like 'sky') or /iː/ (like 'sea'). Emphasize the glide from /e/ to /ɪ/ toward /ɪ/ roughly, but maintain the clear /keɪ/ in nucleus. This is the heart of the correct pronunciation: /ˌzækˈkeɪ.əs/.
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