How to pronounce poetic
Say it like poh-ET-ik. Poetic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce poetic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- poh
- ET
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Poetic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- ETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of poetic
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: poh-ET-ik.
What does poetic mean?
- of or relating to poetry“poetic works”“a poetic romance”
- characterized by romantic imagery“Turner's vision of the rainbow...was poetic”
- of or relating to poets“poetic insight”
Words that rhyme with poetic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of poetic.
Questions about saying poetic
How do you pronounce poetic?
Say poh-ET-ik. The American pronunciation is /poʊˈɛtɪk/. In British English it is /pəʊˈɛtɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in poetic?
Poetic has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ET). Broken into parts: poh · ET · ik.
Is poetic pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /pəʊˈɛtɪk/ (poh-ET-ik).