How to pronounce automatic
Say it like aw-tuh-MAT-ik. Automatic has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MAT).
VoiceSpeed
US American/ˌɔtəˈmætɪk/aw-tuh-MAT-ik
UK British/ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/aw-tuh-MAT-ik
- aw
- tuh
- MAT
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Automatic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- awGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- MATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of automatic
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: aw-tuh-MAT-ik.
What does automatic mean?
adjective
- Capable of operating without external control or intervention.“The automatic clothes washer was a great labor-saving device.”
- Done out of habit or without conscious thought.“The reaction was automatic: flight!”
- Necessary, inevitable, prescribed by logic, law, etc.“Spitting at another player means an automatic red card.”
- A car with an automatic transmission; the transmission itself.“I never learned to drive a stick. I can only drive an automatic.”
- A semi-automatic pistol.“The G-men raiding the speakeasy were equipped with .45 automatics, while the local policemen were carrying revolvers and shotguns.”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- instinctive
- perfunctory
- thoughtless
- automatonlike
- machinelike
- robotlike
- robotic
- reflex
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with automatic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of automatic.
Questions about saying automatic
How do you pronounce automatic?
Say aw-tuh-MAT-ik. The American pronunciation is /ˌɔtəˈmætɪk/. In British English it is /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in automatic?
Automatic has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MAT). Broken into parts: aw · tuh · MAT · ik.
Is automatic 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 /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/ (aw-tuh-MAT-ik).