2 syllables: chro, mic. Stress on chro.
KROH-mik
/ˈkroʊmɪk/
chromic is pronounced KROH-mik (/ˈkroʊmɪk/). It has two syllables (chro-mic), with the stress on "chro". Chromic is an adjective related to or containing chromium, typically describing colors produced by chromium compounds or the oxidation state of chromium in chemistry. The term is used in materials science, chemistry, and color chemistry to denote chromium-derived properties or coloration. It can also appear in medical contexts referring to chromium-containing substances or chromic acid-related topics.
Chromic is an adjective related to or containing chromium, typically describing colors produced by chromium compounds or the oxidation state of chromium in chemistry. The term is used in materials science, chemistry, and color chemistry to denote chromium-derived properties or coloration. It can also appear in medical contexts referring to chromium-containing substances or chromic acid-related topics.
- You: You might flip the vowel quality in the first syllable, saying a short /ɪ/ or /ɒ/ instead of a clear /oʊ/; fix by exaggerating the mouth opening for /oʊ/ and then reducing to a quick glide into /mɪk/. - You: You may insert an extra schwa after /m/, saying /ˈkroʊ.mə.kɪk/; correct by closing the syllable with /m/ then immediately move to /ɪ/; keep the syllable boundary tight. - You: You might mispronounce the final /k/ as /g/ or omit it; ensure a crisp voiceless velar plosive /k/ with a held release; practice 'KO-mik' with the final stop.
"The chromic glaze exhibited a deep, emerald tint due to chromium oxidation."
"Chromic oxide is a stable compound used as a pigment and catalyst."
"The researchers studied chromic reactions to understand color changes in polymers."
Chromic is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈkroʊ.mɪk/ in US and UK. The first syllable has a long O as in 'go', followed by a clear /m/ and a final unstressed /ɪk/. In IPA for US: /ˈkroʊ.mɪk/, UK: /ˈkrəʊ.mɪk/, AU: /ˈkrəʊ.mɪk/. Place the lips slightly rounded on the first vowel, then relax into a light /m/ and a short /ɪ/. Stress is on the first syllable: KROH-mik. Audio reference: listen for the crisp onset /k/ and the long vowel /oʊ/ before /mɪk/.
Common mistakes: (1) Shifting to /ˈkrɒmɪk/ with a short o as in 'cot' in US practice; correct to /ˈkroʊ.mɪk/ with /oʊ/. (2) Slurring the /mɪk/ into /mɪ/ or /ɪk/ without a clear coda; maintain /mɪk/ as a closed syllable. (3) Misplacing stress as second syllable; always stress first syllable /ˈkroʊ.mɪk/. Correction: keep a clear long /oʊ/ in the first syllable, then a sharp /m/ and /ɪk/ with final vowel reduced. Practice saying “KO-mik” slowly, then add the final /k/ cleanly.
US pronunciation /ˈkroʊ.mɪk/ features a long /oʊ/ and rhotic rhythm; UK /ˈkrəʊ.mɪk/ uses a diphthong /əʊ/ with slightly reduced initial vowel; Australian /ˈkrəʊ.mɪk/ aligns with UK but often features a flatter vowel in the first syllable, closer to /əʊ/; overall rhythm is similar, but vowel quality can be more centralized in Australian speech. In all three, the final /k/ is crisp.
Chromic challenges include producing the diphthong /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK/AU) accurately and transitioning cleanly into the /m/ without inserting an extra vowel. The sequence /mɪk/ can be tricky if the jaw relaxes too much, causing a softer ending or 'mick' vs 'meek' confusion. Also, keeping stress on the first syllable while maintaining a quick, crisp final /k/ requires careful timing. IPA awareness helps you lock the segments.
Chromic sometimes appears in contexts like chromic oxide or chromic salts, where the color-bearing property ties to chromium's oxidation state. The phrase 'chromic' can be seen as an attribute rather than a noun, so ensure your sentence structure marks the noun that chromic describes (e.g., ‘chromic oxide pigment’). The pronunciation itself remains stable, but be mindful not to add an extra sound between /m/ and /ɪk/; keep it clean and clipped.
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- US: Emphasize /ˈkroʊ.mɪk/, high back /oʊ/ vowel; keep rhoticity neutral; - UK: /ˈkrəʊ.mɪk/ with a slightly reduced initial vowel; more centralized /əʊ/ in /krəʊ/. - AU: /ˈkrəʊ.mɪk/ similar to UK; may show broader accent vowel qualities and a flatter first syllable; maintain clear /m/ and final /k/.- IPA references: /ˈkroʊ.mɪk/ (US), /ˈkrəʊ.mɪk/ (UK/AU). - Practice tip: anchor mouth shape for /k/ release; keep tongue close to palate for a crisp /k/.
The word chromic derives from the Greek root chroma, meaning color, which is related to the color-producing property of certain chromium compounds. The -ic suffix turns the root into an adjective describing a relation to color or a chemical state. The broader family includes terms like chromic oxide, chromic acid, and chromate. Historically, chromic has been used in chemistry to describe chromium in specific oxidation states and its color-related behavior, notably in pigments and corrosion-resistant coatings. First used in scientific literature in the late 19th to early 20th century, chromic adjectives appeared as chemists expanded the language around transition metal chemistry and pigment chemistry, linking color phenomena to the element chromium. Over time, chromic acquired specialized usage in materials science and dentistry (as in chromic oxide pigments and chromic salts) and remains a standard descriptor for chromium-related color phenomena and oxidation states.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "chromic" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "chromic" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "chromic"
-mic sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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