How to pronounce athletic
Say it like ath-LET-ik. Athletic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce athletic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ath
- LET
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Athletic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- athKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- LETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of athletic
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: ath-LET-ik.
What does athletic mean?
- relating to or befitting athletics or athletes“athletic facilities”
- vigorously active“an acrobatic dance”“an athletic child”
- having a sturdy and well proportioned body“an athletic build”
Words that rhyme with athletic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of athletic.
Questions about saying athletic
How do you pronounce athletic?
Say ath-LET-ik. The American pronunciation is /æθˈlɛtɪk/. In British English it is /æθˈlɛtɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in athletic?
Athletic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LET). Broken into parts: ath · LET · ik.
Is athletic pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /æθˈlɛtɪk/ (ath-LET-ik).