word
hypotenuse
hy-POT-uh-nyoos
haɪˈpɒtənjuːsListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
hypotenuse
Sounds like
Say 'hy-POT-uh-nyoos'.
Dictionary meaning
The longest side of a right-angled triangle, opposite the right angle.
History and origin
Greek — 'hypoteinousa' (stretching under).
Examples
- Pythagoras's theorem relates the square of the hypotenuse to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
American: 'hy-POT-uh-noos'; British: 'hy-POT-uh-nyoos'.
Common mispronunciations
HY-poh-ten-yooshy-puh-TEN-yoos
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