Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hypotenuse

/haɪˈpɑtənus/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.16 in modern English

Syllables: hy-potenuse
IPA: /haɪˈpɑtənus/

18

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle.

Etymology

From Latin hypotenusa, from Ancient Greek ὑποτείνουσα πλευρά (hupoteínousa pleurá, “side subtending [the right angle]”), from ὑποτείνουσα (hupoteínousa, “stretching, extending, subtending”), active participle of ὑποτείνω (hupoteínō, “subtend, stretch under”).

Word Breakdown

Root: *ten-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /haɪˈpɑtənus/
British English: /haɪˈpɒtənjuːz/

Inflected Forms

hypotenuses (plural) hypotheni (alternative)

Derived Forms

hypotenusal nonhypotenuse

Phrases

non-hypotenuse number

Frequently Paired Words

hippopotamus hypothalamus cathetus

Questions

How do you pronounce hypotenuse?: The recorded pronunciation is /haɪˈpɑtənus/.
What does hypotenuse mean?: The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle.
Where does hypotenuse come from?: From Latin hypotenusa, from Ancient Greek ὑποτείνουσα πλευρά (hupoteínousa pleurá, “side subtending [the right angle]”), from ὑποτείνουσα (hupoteínousa, “stretching, extending, subtending”), active participle of ὑποτείνω (hupoteínō, “subtend, stretch under”).

How to pronounce hypotenuse

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