How to pronounce critical
Say it like KRIT-ih-kul. Critical has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce critical. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KRIT
- ih
- kul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Critical pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KRITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of critical
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: KRIT-ih-kul.
What does critical mean?
- marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws“a critical attitude”
- at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction“a critical temperature of water is 100 degrees C--its boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure”“critical mass”
- characterized by careful evaluation and judgment“a critical reading”“a critical dissertation”
Where does critical come from?
From Latin criticus + English -al.
Words that rhyme with critical
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of critical.
Questions about saying critical
How do you pronounce critical?
Say KRIT-ih-kul. The American pronunciation is /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/. In British English it is /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in critical?
Critical has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRIT). Broken into parts: KRIT · ih · kul.
Is critical 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 /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/ (KRIT-ih-kul).