HowPronounceIt
  1. Home
  2. How to pronounce
  3. cryptic

How to pronounce cryptic

Say it like KRIP-tik. Cryptic has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRIP).

VoiceSpeed
US American/ˈkrɪptɪk/KRIP-tik
UK British/ˈkrɪptɪk/KRIP-tik
  • KRIP
  • tik
  • Main stress
  • Lighter stress
  • Unstressed

Cryptic pronunciation, sound by sound

Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.

  1. KRIPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
  2. tikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.

American vs British pronunciation of cryptic

American and British speakers say cryptic in essentially the same way: /ˈkrɪptɪk/ in the US and /ˈkrɪptɪk/ in the UK.

British respelling: KRIP-tik.

What does cryptic mean?

adjective
  1. Having hidden (unapparent) meaning.
  2. Mystified or of an obscure nature; not easy to perceive.
  3. Involving use of a code or cipher.
noun
  1. A cryptic crossword puzzle.

Similar and opposite words

Similar meaning

Words that rhyme with cryptic

Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cryptic.

Questions about saying cryptic

How do you pronounce cryptic?

Say KRIP-tik. The American pronunciation is /ˈkrɪptɪk/. In British English it is /ˈkrɪptɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

How many syllables are in cryptic?

Cryptic has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KRIP). Broken into parts: KRIP · tik.

Do Americans and Brits say cryptic the same way?

Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkrɪptɪk/ and the British form is /ˈkrɪptɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.

Pronunciation from CMUdict and Wiktionary; meaning and origin adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).