How to pronounce ballistic
Say it like buh-LIS-tik. Ballistic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ballistic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- buh
- LIS
- tik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ballistic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of ballistic
American and British speakers say ballistic in essentially the same way: /bəˈlɪstɪk/ in the US and /bəˈlɪstɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: buh-LIS-tik.
What does ballistic mean?
- Of or relating to ballistics.
- Of or relating to projectiles moving under their own momentum, aerodynamic drag, gravity, and sometimes rocket power, without significant lift.
- Very angry.“When he heard him lie about it, he went ballistic.”
Where does ballistic come from?
From Latin ballista (“a military siege engine for throwing stones”) + -ic.
Words that rhyme with ballistic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ballistic.
Questions about saying ballistic
How do you pronounce ballistic?
Say buh-LIS-tik. The American pronunciation is /bəˈlɪstɪk/. In British English it is /bəˈlɪstɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ballistic?
Ballistic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LIS). Broken into parts: buh · LIS · tik.
Do Americans and Brits say ballistic the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bəˈlɪstɪk/ and the British form is /bəˈlɪstɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.