How to pronounce chronic
Say it like KRON-ik. Chronic has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce chronic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KRON
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Chronic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KRONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of chronic
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KRON-ik.
What does chronic mean?
- being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering“chronic indigestion”“a chronic shortage of funds”
- of long duration“chronic money problems”
- habitual“a chronic smoker”
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with chronic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of chronic.
Questions about saying chronic
How do you pronounce chronic?
Say KRON-ik. The American pronunciation is /ˈkrɑnɪk/. In British English it is /ˈkrɒnɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in chronic?
Chronic has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRON). Broken into parts: KRON · ik.
Is chronic pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkrɒnɪk/ (KRON-ik).