How to pronounce macaronic
Say it like mak-uh-RAH-nik. Macaronic has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce macaronic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mak
- uh
- RAH
- nik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Macaronic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- makGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- nikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of macaronic
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: mak-uh-RON-ik.
What does macaronic mean?
- Written in a mixed language, one that combines elements from several.
- Like a macaroni or dandy; foppish, trifling, affected.
- A work of macaronic character.
- A word consisting of a mix of words of two or more languages.
- Such a word that mixes Latin morphemes with non-Latin ones.
Where does macaronic come from?
From New Latin, 1517 coinage, macaronicus, from Italian (Neapolitan dialect) maccarone (“coarse dumpling”).
Words that rhyme with macaronic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of macaronic.
Questions about saying macaronic
How do you pronounce macaronic?
Say mak-uh-RAH-nik. The American pronunciation is /ˌmækəˈrɑnɪk/. In British English it is /ˌmækəˈrɒnɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in macaronic?
Macaronic has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAH). Broken into parts: mak · uh · RAH · nik.
Is macaronic 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 /ˌmækəˈrɒnɪk/ (mak-uh-RON-ik).