How to pronounce ironic
Say it like eye-RON-ik. Ironic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ironic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- eye
- RON
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ironic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- eyeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- RONSay 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 ironic
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: eye-RON-ik.
What does ironic mean?
- humorously sarcastic or mocking“dry humor”“an ironic remark often conveys an intended meaning obliquely”
- characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is“madness, an ironic fate for such a clear thinker”“it was ironical that the well-planned scheme failed so completely”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ironic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ironic.
Questions about saying ironic
How do you pronounce ironic?
Say eye-RON-ik. The American pronunciation is /aɪˈrɑnɪk/. In British English it is /aɪˈrɒnɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ironic?
Ironic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RON). Broken into parts: eye · RON · ik.
Is ironic 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 /aɪˈrɒnɪk/ (eye-RON-ik).