How to pronounce emphatic
Say it like em-FAT-ik. Emphatic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce emphatic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- em
- FAT
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Emphatic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- emKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- FATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of emphatic
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: em-FAT-ik.
What does emphatic mean?
- Characterized by emphasis; forceful.
- Stated with conviction.“He gave me an emphatic no when I asked him out.”
- Belonging to a set of English tense forms comprising the auxiliary verb do plus an infinitive without to.
- An emphatic consonant.
- A word or phrase adding emphasis, such as a lot or really.
- A distinct pronoun form or noun suffix found in certain languages (e.g. Goidelic languages) that is used to place emphasis on the noun or pronoun in order to create contrast with the rest of the sentence.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- pointed
- emphasized
- emphasised
Words that rhyme with emphatic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of emphatic.
Questions about saying emphatic
How do you pronounce emphatic?
Say em-FAT-ik. The American pronunciation is /ɛmˈfætɪk/. In British English it is /ɛmˈfætɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in emphatic?
Emphatic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAT). Broken into parts: em · FAT · ik.
Is emphatic 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 /ɛmˈfætɪk/ (em-FAT-ik).