Heinous.

We all know what it means.  It’s an adjective meaning “hateful, odious, abominable, evil, awful, reprehensible,” etc.  Like, “a heinous crime.”

Yet, there are a shocking number of incorrect pronunciations out there.

Like:  High-EE–nous, HEE–nous, high–AY–nous (as in “My Cousin Vinny”), and HAY–nee–ous (cf., e.g., “LAIR–nix”).

I write today because this morning I heard a veteran CBS reporter/interview show host come up with a new one:  “HIGH–nous.”

There is only one way to pronounce this word.  I was gratified to find the dictionaries confirm it:  “HAY–nous.”  Kinda rhymes with “grayness.”

To pronounce it any other way is a grave offense.