English pronunciation · Words Starting with H

Hi Pronunciation

Hi is pronounced HY, IPA /ˈhaɪ/.

HY

US /ˈhaɪ/  ·  UK /ˈhaɪ/

Syllables: HY (1 syllable)

interjection: An informal greeting.

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Hi in a Sentence

  • Hi, sorry I am late.
  • She said hi and carried on walking.
  • Just dropping in to say hi.

Common Mispronunciations of Hi

Not HEE

The vowel is the long i of my, a glide that starts open and closes. Languages that give i an ee value push speakers towards the wrong one.

Not I (with no h)

The h is breathed out clearly at the start. Without it the greeting becomes the pronoun.

Tip: Said exactly like high. The two differ only in spelling.

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