How to pronounce maniac
Say it like MAY-nee-ak. Maniac has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce maniac. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAY
- nee
- ak
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Maniac pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- neeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- akGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of maniac
American and British speakers say maniac in essentially the same way: /ˈmeɪniˌæk/ in the US and /ˈmeɪniˌæk/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAY-nee-ak.
What does maniac mean?
- An insane person, especially one who suffers from a mania.“She was driving like a maniac.”
- A fanatic, a person with an obsession.“He's a manga maniac.”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying maniac
How do you pronounce maniac?
Say MAY-nee-ak. The American pronunciation is /ˈmeɪniˌæk/. In British English it is /ˈmeɪniˌæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in maniac?
Maniac has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY). Broken into parts: MAY · nee · ak.
Do Americans and Brits say maniac the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmeɪniˌæk/ and the British form is /ˈmeɪniˌæk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.