How to pronounce
Hierarchy
/ˈhaɪ.ə.ˌrɑr.ki/
US English
/ˈhaɪ.ə.ˌrɑr.ki/
UK English
/ˈhaɪ.ə.ˌrɑːr.ki/
Hierarchy is pronounced HYE-uh-rar-kee (/ˈhaɪ.ə.rɑr.ki/) — four syllables, stress on the first. The tricky part is that the "hier" opening is two syllables ("HYE-uh"), not one, and the "ch" is a hard "k" sound, not "ch" as in "church". US and UK differ only slightly in the "rar" vowel length.
Pronunciation Guide
Syllables
HI · er · ar · ky
Stressing the second syllable 'er' instead of the first.
The HIGH king is at the top of the hierarchy.
Why “Hierarchy” is hard to pronounce
Two things catch people out. First, the "hier-" is often compressed into a single syllable ("HYRE") when it should be two — "HYE-uh". Second, the "ch" looks like the "ch" in "church" but is actually a hard "k", inherited from the Greek root. Add four syllables and a first-syllable stress that's easy to misplace, and the word invites several plausible-but-wrong attempts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce "hierarchy"?
Is the "ch" in hierarchy a "k" or a "ch" sound?
How many syllables does hierarchy have?
Tap the mic, say “hierarchy”, then stop.
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