zak-ur-EYE-uh
/ˌzækɚˈaɪə/
zachariah is pronounced zak-ur-EYE-uh (/ˌzækɚˈaɪə/). Zachariah is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "the Lord has remembered." In English, it is commonly pronounced with a three-syllable structure, often anglicized as Zach-uh-RI-uh or Zach-uh-RAI-uh, emphasizing the middle or second-to-last syllable. The name appears in religious texts and modern usage, retaining a distinctive, slightly archaic cadence in many dialects.
Zachariah is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "the Lord has remembered." In English, it is commonly pronounced with a three-syllable structure, often anglicized as Zach-uh-RI-uh or Zach-uh-RAI-uh, emphasizing the middle or second-to-last syllable. The name appears in religious texts and modern usage, retaining a distinctive, slightly archaic cadence in many dialects.
"The sermon referenced Zachariah, the prophet from the Hebrew scriptures."
"Zachariah’s name is often shortened to Zach in informal contexts."
"In academic discussions, Zachariah is treated as a proper noun with careful pronunciation."
Typical pronunciation is zack-uh-RY-uh or ZAK-uh-RAI-uh with primary stress on the third syllable in many US and UK voice patterns. IPA guidance: US/UK: /ˌzækəˈraɪə/ or /ˌzækəˈreɪ.ə/ depending on speaker. Start with /z/ + /æ/ in the first syllable, a schwa or /ə/ in the second, and a diphthong in the stressed syllable. Finish with a reduced vowel and a soft schwa or /ə/. Audio reference: use reputable dictionaries’ pronunciation audio for confirmation.
Common errors include: (1) compressing the name into two syllables (za-CHAR-i-ah) rather than three, (2) substituting the middle vowel with a pure /ɪ/ or /iː/ instead of a reduced /ə/ or /ə/ plus the diphthong in the stressed syllable, (3) misplacing stress on the first syllable. Correct by practicing three equal-crystal syllables with a light secondary stress on the penultimate syllable and using /ə/ in the middle. Listen to native pronunciations and imitate the flow: zack-uh-RAI-uh or zack-uh-RAH-uh.
In US, UK, and AU, the core segments remain /z/ + /æ/ + /k/ but vowel qualities drift: US tends to a /ˌzækəˈraɪə/ with a pronounced /aɪ/ in the stressed syllable; UK often leans toward /ˌzækəˈreɪ.ə/ with a longer /eɪ/ in the stressed syllable; Australian pronunciation generally mirrors UK but with more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a slightly flatter overall vowel height. Rhoticity is not a defining factor here, but the presence or absence of /r/ in the stressed syllable’s environment can subtly influence the groove of the middle vowel.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable structure, the reduced vowel in the second syllable, and the final schwa-timing in rapid speech. The primary stress lands on the third syllable in many variants, but some speakers redistribute stress, changing the rhythm. The combination of /æ/ in the first syllable and the diphthong in the stressed syllable challenges non-native speakers’ perception of vowel length and timbre. Pay attention to the transition between /k/ and /ə/ and the closing vowel /ə/.
A unique feature is the mid-to-late position of the main stress and the presence of a potential diphthong in the stressed syllable, producing either /raɪə/ or /reɪ.ə/ sequences. The final syllable can be reduced to /ə/ or released slightly, depending on the speaker’s dialect. The combination of /æ/ in the first syllable with a mid-low central vowel in the last makes its prosody distinctive and memorable.
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Zachariah derives from the Hebrew name זְכַרְיָה (Zekharyah or Zechariah), formed from two root elements: זָכַר (zakhar) meaning “remember” and יָה (yah), a diminutive or divine reference to the name of God. The name appears in the Hebrew Bible as a priestly or prophetic figure (Zechariah) and is attested in Greek as Ζαχαρίας (Zacharias) and Ζεχαρίας (Zecharias). In Latin and later English, the form Zachariah emerged through transliterations of Zechariah, influenced by ecclesiastical Latin prayer forms and the Reformation-era standardization of biblical names. First known English appearance traces to early modern translations and the King James Bible’s rendering of Zechariah, adapted to English phonotactics with final -ah approximations. Over centuries, pronunciations shifted regionally: some speakers preserve a more Hebrew-like final /a/ or /ɐ/ sound, while others settle on two or three-syllable anglicizations with variable stress. In contemporary usage, Zachariah is widely recognized as a literary, religious, and familial name, retaining its Hebrew heritage while adapting to English prosody and regional vowel quality.
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Words that rhyme with "zachariah"
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