English pronunciation · Words Starting with H

Hedgehog Pronunciation

Hedgehog is pronounced HEJ-hahg, IPA /ˈhɛdʒˌhɑg/.

HEJ-hahg

US /ˈhɛdʒˌhɑg/  ·  UK /ˈhɛdʒhɒg/

Syllables: HEJ · hahg (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)

noun: A small spiny nocturnal mammal that curls into a ball when threatened.

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Hedgehog in a Sentence

  • A hedgehog crossed the lawn just after dusk.
  • Leave a gap in the fence so a hedgehog can get through.
  • Hedgehog numbers have fallen sharply in Britain.

Common Mispronunciations of Hedgehog

Not HEJ-uh-hog

Two beats, not three. The dge and the h meet directly, with no vowel slipped between them.

Not hej-HOG

The first half of the compound takes the main beat, as it does in hedgerow and hoglet.

Tip: The name is literal: a hog that lives in a hedge, named for the grunting noise it makes.

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