3 syllables: an, ge, lic. Stress on ge.
an-JEL-ik
/ˌæˈndʒɛlɪk/
angelic is pronounced an-JEL-ik (/ˌæˈndʒɛlɪk/). It has three syllables (an-ge-lic), with the stress on "ge". Angelic means relating to angels or having a gentle, benevolent, or supremely good quality. In everyday use, it describes something almost saintly or exquisitely beautiful, often with a soft, pure connotation. The term carries a positive tonal weight and is frequently employed in literary and descriptive contexts to imply purity, grace, or heavenly brightness.
Angelic means relating to angels or having a gentle, benevolent, or supremely good quality. In everyday use, it describes something almost saintly or exquisitely beautiful, often with a soft, pure connotation. The term carries a positive tonal weight and is frequently employed in literary and descriptive contexts to imply purity, grace, or heavenly brightness.
"Her voice had an angelic clarity that filled the concert hall."
"The child’s angelic smile warmed the room and melted everyone's worries."
"She wore an angelic glow after the flawless performance."
ANG-juh-lik. In IPA: US /ˈændʒəˌlɪk/ or /ˈændʒəlɪk/ depending on the speaker, UK /ˈeɪn.dʒɪ.lɪk/ or /ˈeɪn.dʒəl ɪk/. The stress is on the first syllable, with a subtle secondary cue before the -lic ending. Tip: start with a clear 'AN' or 'AYN' vowel, then a soft 'j' glide before the 'uh' schwa or short 'i' and finish with a crisp 'k'. Audio reference: listen to clean enunciation on pronunciation platforms or dictionary audio for the exact regional variant.
Two frequent errors: (1) treating it as a plain -lic ending without a distinct 'j' glide, producing 'angel-ick' instead of 'anj-ə-lik'; (2) misplacing the primary stress, saying 'an- GE-lik' or 'AN-gel-ik' with an overlong first vowel. Correct by articulating the 'j' as a voiced palato-alveolar jack-into position (like the sound in 'judge'), keeping the first syllable strong, and using a short, unstressed 'ə' or 'ɪ' in the middle. Recording yourself and matching dictionary audio helps fix these patterns.
In US English, the first syllable often carries strong primary stress with a tense vowel; some speakers use a /ˈændʒə/ sequence leading into /ˌlɪk/ or /ˈændʒəlɪk/. UK speakers may vary between /ˈeɪn.dʒɪ.lɪk/ and a more compact /ˈæŋ.dʒə.lɪk/, depending on regional rhotics and vowel laxity. Australian pronunciation tends to lean toward /ˈændʒə.lɪk/ with less rhoticity than US and a shorter, quick second syllable. In all cases, the 'j' sound remains a palato-alveolar affricate; the key differences are vowel quality and rhotic presence.
The difficulty lies in the interposed palato-alveolar affricate /dʒ/ after a stressed vowel, producing a cluster that can blur into 'anj-elic' if not enunciated. The weak middle vowel can become schwa or short i depending on speed, and different accents adjust the vowel in the second syllable. Additionally, the balance of alveolar closure for /dʒ/ and the following /ə/ or /lɪ/ requires precise tongue positioning. Focus on the 'dʒ' sequence and a clear, short middle vowel to maintain accuracy.
In natural fast speech, many speakers reduce the middle vowel, producing something like /ˈændʒl̩ɪk/ or /ˈændʒlɪk/, where the second syllable becomes a syllabic 'l' or a quick vowel followed by 'k'. This is context-dependent and usually avoided in careful, formal speech. To preserve the intended three-syllable rhythm, practice with full vowel sounds: /ˈændʒə.lɪk/ and then integrate the glottal or syllabic reductions only when appropriate for fluency.
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Angelic derives from the noun angel, rooted in Latin angelus, from the Greek angelos, meaning messenger. The term was adopted into English in the late Middle English period, initially describing things pertaining to angels in a religious sense. Over time, the sense broadened to convey qualities associated with angels: purity, benevolence, and beauty. The word entered religious and literary discourse to emphasize moral goodness and sublime grace, often paired with imagery of light and radiance. In modern usage, angelic is common in everyday praise for temperament, appearance, or musical tone, carrying a gentle, almost ethereal nuance that foregrounds virtue and softness. First known usage in literature traces to devotional or descriptive passages where angelic attributes were used to characterize beings or actions that resemble heavenly messengers. The semantic journey reflects a shift from strictly celestial associations to a more generalized positive valuation of gentleness, harmony, and moral excellence.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "angelic" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "angelic"
-rd) sounds
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