How to pronounce narcotic

Q: How do you pronounce narcotic?

Say nar-KOT-ik. The American pronunciation is /nɑrˈkɑtɪk/. In British English it is /nɑːˈkɒtɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

Say it like nar-KOT-ik. Narcotic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOT).

VoiceSpeed

Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce narcotic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.

US American/nɑrˈkɑtɪk/nar-KOT-ik

UK British/nɑːˈkɒtɪk/nah-KOT-ik

Main stress
Lighter stress
Unstressed

Narcotic pronunciation, sound by sound

Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.

narKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
KOTSay 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 narcotic

Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.

British respelling: nah-KOT-ik.

What does narcotic mean?

noun

Any substance or drug that reduces pain, induces sleep and may alter mood or behavior; in some contexts, especially in reference to the opiates-and-opioids class, especially in reference to illegal drugs, and often both.
Any type of numbing or soothing drug.

adjective

Of, or relating to narcotics.
Inducing sleep; causing narcosis.

Words that rhyme with narcotic

Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of narcotic.

Questions about saying narcotic

How do you pronounce narcotic?

Say nar-KOT-ik. The American pronunciation is /nɑrˈkɑtɪk/. In British English it is /nɑːˈkɒtɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

How many syllables are in narcotic?

Narcotic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOT). Broken into parts: nar · KOT · ik.

Is narcotic pronounced differently in British English?

Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /nɑːˈkɒtɪk/ (nah-KOT-ik).