How to pronounce explicit
Say it like ik-SPLIS-ut. Explicit has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPLIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce explicit. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ik
- SPLIS
- ut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Explicit pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SPLISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- utKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of explicit
American and British speakers say explicit in essentially the same way: /ɪkˈsplɪsət/ in the US and /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ik-SPLIS-it.
What does explicit mean?
- precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable; leaving nothing to implication“explicit instructions”“she made her wishes explicit”
- in accordance with fact or the primary meaning of a term
Where does explicit come from?
Borrowed from French explicite, from Latin explicitus (“disentangled, easy”), variant of explicātus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with explicit
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of explicit.
Questions about saying explicit
How do you pronounce explicit?
Say ik-SPLIS-ut. The American pronunciation is /ɪkˈsplɪsət/. In British English it is /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in explicit?
Explicit has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPLIS). Broken into parts: ik · SPLIS · ut.
Do Americans and Brits say explicit the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪkˈsplɪsət/ and the British form is /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.