How to pronounce arc
Say it like ARK. Arc is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce arc. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ARK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Arc pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ARKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of arc
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AHK.
What does arc mean?
- electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
- a continuous portion of a circle
- something curved in shape
- form an arch or curve“her back arches”“her hips curve nicely”
Where does arc come from?
Inherited from Middle English ark, from Old French arc, from Latin arcus (“a bow, arc, arch”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂erkʷos (“bow, arrow”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with arc
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of arc.
Words that sound like arc
Questions about saying arc
How do you pronounce arc?
Say ARK. The American pronunciation is /ɑrk/. In British English it is /ɑːk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in arc?
Arc is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ARK.
Is arc pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ɑːk/ (AHK).
What words sound the same as arc?
Arc sounds the same as ark in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.