How to pronounce catholic
Say it like KATH-lik. Catholic has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KATH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce catholic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KATH
- lik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Catholic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KATHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- likKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of catholic
American and British speakers say catholic in essentially the same way: /ˈkæθlɪk/ in the US and /ˈkæθlɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: KATH-lik.
What does catholic mean?
- a member of a Catholic church
- of or relating to or supporting Catholicism“the Catholic Church”
- free from provincial prejudices or attachments“catholic in one's tastes”
Questions about saying catholic
How do you pronounce catholic?
Say KATH-lik. The American pronunciation is /ˈkæθlɪk/. In British English it is /ˈkæθlɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in catholic?
Catholic has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KATH). Broken into parts: KATH · lik.
Do Americans and Brits say catholic the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkæθlɪk/ and the British form is /ˈkæθlɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.