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How to pronounce hello

Learn how to pronounce hello in English with clear US and UK audio, simple phonetic spelling, IPA, syllables, stress, and pronunciation tips.

Quick practice

Build hello in three passes

Practice hello in three passes. First listen without speaking and notice the number of syllables. Then repeat with the simple spelling and IPA visible, keeping the main stress on huh-LOH. Finally place the word in a short sentence and say the sentence twice: once slowly for accuracy and once at a natural pace for fluency.

1

Listen

Hear the rhythm.

2

Repeat

Copy the key sounds.

3

Use it

Say a real sentence.

1. Audio

Tap US Audio or UK Audio to listen first. Use Slow 0.55x for practice.

2. Simple phonetic spelling
huh-LOH
3. IPA transcription
/həˈloʊ/
4. Syllables
hello
5. Stress
huh-LOH
6. Native-language tips

huh-loh

  • Stress the second syllable: LOH.
  • Start gently with /h/; do not add a hard vowel before it.

What hello means

A greeting used when meeting someone or starting a conversation.

How to say hello in American English

Use the simple guide "huh-LOH" and compare it with US IPA /həˈloʊ/.

How to say hello in British English

Compare UK IPA /həˈləʊ/ with the guide "huh-LOH", then confirm it with UK audio.

What makes this word difficult

The first syllable is weak and often uses schwa /ə/. American /oʊ/ and British /əʊ/ both glide at the end. The letters he- do not sound like the word he; the first syllable is reduced.

Mouth and tongue position

Breathe lightly through /h/, relax the first vowel, then round the lips for the final glide.

Common pronunciation mistakes

  • Putting equal stress on both syllables.
  • Dropping /h/ so hello begins like ello.

Natural example sentences

  • Hello, how are you today?
  • She said hello before starting the meeting.

Practice method

Make hello easier to say in conversation

Practice hello in three passes. First listen without speaking and notice the number of syllables. Then repeat with the simple spelling and IPA visible, keeping the main stress on huh-LOH. Finally place the word in a short sentence and say the sentence twice: once slowly for accuracy and once at a natural pace for fluency.

The word hello is easier to remember when you connect it to a real sentence. Try it in a question, a short answer, and one sentence from your own daily life so the sound becomes part of active vocabulary.

A simple practice routine

  1. 1. Listen: play both accents and notice the stressed syllable.
  2. 2. Slow down: say each sound clearly, without adding new syllables.
  3. 3. Connect: use the word in one sentence at normal speaking speed.

Tips for language learners

japanese speakers

  • Avoid reading hello as he-ro; keep /l/ clear and do not insert an extra vowel after it.

FAQ

What is the IPA for hello?

A common IPA transcription is /həˈloʊ/. PronounceText can show US and UK variants when they differ.

Where is the stress in hello?

The stress guide is huh-LOH.