How to pronounce polytonic
Say it like pol-ee-TON-ik. Polytonic has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce polytonic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pol
- ee
- TON
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Polytonic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- polGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- TONSay 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 polytonic
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: pol-ee-TON-ik.
What does polytonic mean?
- Having several tones.
- Of or using the Greek system of diacritics which employs the rough and smooth breathings and the grave, acute, and circumflex accents. Replaced by the monotonic system in 1982.
Where does polytonic come from?
From poly- + tonic.
Words that rhyme with polytonic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of polytonic.
Questions about saying polytonic
How do you pronounce polytonic?
Say pol-ee-TON-ik. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɑliˈtɑnɪk/. In British English it is /ˌpɒliˈtɒnɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in polytonic?
Polytonic has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TON). Broken into parts: pol · ee · TON · ik.
Is polytonic 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 /ˌpɒliˈtɒnɪk/ (pol-ee-TON-ik).