Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hei-tiki

/ˌheɪˈtɪki/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.64 in modern English

Syllables: hei-ti-ki
IPA: /ˌheɪˈtɪki/

14

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An ornamental pendant (typically made of pounamu or greenstone) among the Māori, worn around the neck, representing a human figure traditionally connected with Tiki, the first human in Maori mythology.

New Zealand usage

Example Sentences

"The ability to work stone and bone was also prized, for the production of essential tools such as adzes and fishhooks, and for the quality of ornaments such as pendants and hei tiki."

Etymology

Borrowed from Māori heitiki, from hei (“to tie around the neck; scarf, pendant”) + tiki (“carving of a human figure”).

Word Breakdown

Root: heitiki

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˌheɪˈtɪki/

Usage

New Zealand usage

Inflected Forms

hei-tikis (plural) heitiki (alternative) hei tiki (alternative)

Questions

How do you pronounce hei-tiki?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌheɪˈtɪki/.
What does hei-tiki mean?: An ornamental pendant (typically made of pounamu or greenstone) among the Māori, worn around the neck, representing a human figure traditionally connected with Tiki, the first human in Maori mythology.
Where does hei-tiki come from?: Borrowed from Māori heitiki, from hei (“to tie around the neck; scarf, pendant”) + tiki (“carving of a human figure”).

How to pronounce hei-tiki

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “hei-tiki”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌheɪˈtɪki/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “hei-tiki”.
Repeat and practice — Say “hei-tiki” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.