How to pronounce archaic
Say it like ar-KAY-ik. Archaic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce archaic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ar
- KAY
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Archaic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- arKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- KAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of archaic
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: ah-KAY-ik.
What does archaic mean?
- The prehistoric period intermediate between the earliest period (‘Paleo-Indian’, ‘Paleo-American’, ‘American‐paleolithic’, etc.) of human presence in the Western Hemisphere, and the most recent prehistoric period (‘Woodland’, etc.).
- (A member of) an archaic variety of Homo sapiens.
- Of or characterized by antiquity; old-fashioned, quaint, antiquated.
- No longer in ordinary use, though still used occasionally to give a sense of antiquity and still likely to be understood by well-educated speakers and are found in historical texts.
- Belonging to the archaic period.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with archaic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of archaic.
Questions about saying archaic
How do you pronounce archaic?
Say ar-KAY-ik. The American pronunciation is /ɑrˈkeɪɪk/. In British English it is /ɑːˈkeɪɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in archaic?
Archaic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY). Broken into parts: ar · KAY · ik.
Is archaic 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 /ɑːˈkeɪɪk/ (ah-KAY-ik).