How to pronounce slapstick
Say it like SLAP-stik. Slapstick has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLAP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce slapstick. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SLAP
- stik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Slapstick pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SLAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- stikGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of slapstick
American and British speakers say slapstick in essentially the same way: /ˈslæpˌstɪk/ in the US and /ˈslæpˌstɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: SLAP-stik.
What does slapstick mean?
- A style of humor focusing on physical comedy, such as slipping on a banana peel, and with foolish characters who get into humiliating situations.
- A pair of sticks attached at one end and used to create a slapping sound effect, used especially in slapstick comedy; a type of clapper.
Where does slapstick come from?
From slap + stick, calque of Italian batacchio.
Questions about saying slapstick
How do you pronounce slapstick?
Say SLAP-stik. The American pronunciation is /ˈslæpˌstɪk/. In British English it is /ˈslæpˌstɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in slapstick?
Slapstick has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLAP). Broken into parts: SLAP · stik.
Do Americans and Brits say slapstick the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈslæpˌstɪk/ and the British form is /ˈslæpˌstɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.