3 syllables: A, tom, ic. Stress on tom.
uh-TAH-mik
/əˈtɑmɪk/
Atomic is pronounced uh-TAH-mik (/əˈtɑmɪk/). It has three syllables (A-tom-ic), with the stress on "tom". Atomic is an adjective meaning relating to atoms or the fundamental, indivisible units of matter. It also describes something extremely small or energetic, or a sudden, intense force or reaction. In everyday use, it often conveys a sense of high energy, powerful change, or scientific context.
adjectiveAtomic is an adjective meaning relating to atoms or the fundamental, indivisible units of matter. It also describes something extremely small or energetic, or a sudden, intense force or reaction. In everyday use, it often conveys a sense of high energy, powerful change, or scientific context.
How to Pronounce Atomic
"The atomic model helped scientists understand the structure of the atom."
"Researchers conducted atomic-level simulations to study material properties."
"A meteor exploded with atomic-like energy, shaking the room."
Pronounce as /ˌæ.tɪˈmɒk/ in US/UK broad styles, with the primary stress on the second syllable -mák. Start with a short, lax æ in the first syllable, follow with a light schwa-like or short i sound in the second: /ˌæ.tɪˈmɒk/. Keep the final /ɒk/ rounded and crisp. Audio aides: you can compare to the word 'atomic' in standard dictionaries or pronunciation videos for precise mouth positioning.
Common errors include misplacing stress (trying to stress the first syllable as in some adjectives) and over-tensing the second syllable. Another error is mispronouncing the final /ɒk/ as /ɒkɪk/ or adding an extra vowel. Correct by practicing the two-step rhythm: stressed second syllable /ˈmɒk/ with a clear, rounded /ɒ/ and a short /ɪ/ in the middle. Use minimal pairs to feel the contrast: /æ/ vs /æɪ/ in the first syllable, and avoid a long /iː/ or /ə/ between.
In US English, primary stress lands on the second syllable: /ˌæ.tɪˈmɒk/. UK English often preserves a projective second-stress pattern with a more clipped /æ/ and a short /ɒ/; US rhotics influence is minimal in this word. Australian tends to mimic US rhythm but may have a slightly more centralized /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Across accents, the main differences are vowel quality and the exact vowel height of /ɒ/ and whether the /t/ is flapped in connected speech.
Two main challenges: correctly placing the stress on the second syllable and producing the mid-back vowel /ɒ/ in /mɒk/ without letting it drift toward /aɪ/ or /ɔː/. The middle vowel /ɪ/ can be reduced in faster speech, so the sequence /æ.tɪ/ often becomes a quicker light sound. Practicing with slowed, deliberate articulation helps; rely on IPA cues and record yourself to compare with native models.
The word features a long-ish, closed syllable ending in a strong /mɒk/ cluster and a clear second-syllable peak. The onset /t/ is often unreleased in rapid speech, leading to /ˌæ.tɪˈmɒk/ becoming /ˌæ.dɪˈmɒk/ in casual connected speech. Emphasizing the second syllable’s /mɒk/ and keeping the /t/ crisp before the morpheme boundary helps maintain standard pronunciation.
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Atomic derives from the Greek atomos, meaning indivisible, from a- (not) + temnein (to cut). The term entered English via Late Latin atomus and Medieval Latin, with early scientific uses in the 19th century as the concept of the atom gained traction in chemistry and physics. “Atomos” itself traces to Aristotle’s atomic theory; however, the 19th-century scientific revolution reframed atoms as measurable particles. The modern sense expanded to describe anything fundamental or extremely small, and by the 20th century “atomic” became common in both scientific literature and popular language to convey energy, intensity, or nuclear relevance. The word’s connotations now blend scientific exactness with everyday descriptors of size, power, and rapid change.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Atomic" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Atomic" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Atomic"
-mic sounds
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