English pronunciation · Words Starting with H

History Pronunciation

History is pronounced HI-ster-ee, IPA /ˈhɪstɝi/.

HI-ster-ee

US /ˈhɪstɝi/  ·  UK /ˈhɪstəˌri/

Syllables: HI · ster · ee (3 syllables, stress on syllable 1)

noun: The study of the past, or the record of what has happened.

Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.

History in a Sentence

  • She teaches history at a comprehensive in Leeds.
  • The building has a complicated history.
  • Check your browsing history if you cannot find the page.

Common Mispronunciations of History

Not hi-STOR-ee

The opening syllable is the strong one. Historic and historical move the beat along, but the noun does not.

Not HIS-tor-ee

The middle is unstressed and reduces almost to nothing, so many speakers say HIS-tree in ordinary speech.

Tip: History is HI-ster-ee but historic is hi-STO-rik. The beat moves as soon as the ending changes.

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