2 syllables: clin, ic. Stress on clin.
/ˈklɪnɪk/
clinic is pronounced /ˈklɪnɪk/. It has two syllables (clin-ic), with the stress on "clin". A short medical facility or room where patients receive examination, diagnosis, or treatment. The word typically refers to a small, specialized space within a hospital or standalone outpatient facility. In everyday use, it can describe a place for routine medical care or a physician’s specialty office.
Say it backA short medical facility or room where patients receive examination, diagnosis, or treatment. The word typically refers to a small, specialized space within a hospital or standalone outpatient facility. In everyday use, it can describe a place for routine medical care or a physician’s specialty office.
"I visited the clinic for a routine check-up."
"The city overcrowding led to long waits at the urgent care clinic."
"She works at a community clinic that serves immigrant families."
You pronounce it as /ˈklɪ.nɪk/ in most varieties, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a clear /kl/ blend: the tongue blade approaches the alveolar ridge while the lips prepare a slight rounding for the /l/ before the short /ɪ/ vowel in the first syllable. The second syllable uses a reduced /ɪ/ leading to /nɪk/. Listen for a crisp, brief final /k/ release. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈklɪ.nɪk/.
Common errors include reducing the first syllable to /klɪ/ without a clear /n/ onset for the second syllable (e.g., /ˈklɪnɪk/ with weak second syllable), and mispronouncing the final /k/ as a /t/ or a soft /g/. Ensure the second syllable has a clear /nɪk/ and end with a strong, voiceless /k/. Keep the first syllable stressed: /ˈklɪ.nɪk/ rather than /klɪˈnɪk/.
In US and UK accents, the word keeps /ˈklɪ.nɪk/. The main variation is vowel quality: US tends to clearer, tenser /ɪ/; some UK speakers may have a slightly shorter /ɪ/ in the first syllable. Australian pronunciation mirrors British patterns but may feature a shorter vowel duration and a softer /k/ release in rapid speech. Overall rhoticity does not dramatically shift the word itself, as the initial consonants drive the distinctive form.
The difficulty lies in maintaining a crisp /kl/ onset and the short, clipped /ɪ/ in the first syllable while ensuring the second syllable has a clear /nɪk/ without vowel intrusion. Many non-native speakers struggle with the abrupt stop of the final /k/ after a lax /ɪ/. Also, keeping the /l/ and /ɪ/ sequence distinct in rapid speech can be tricky. Practice separating the clusters and emphasizing the final /k/.
Clinic is often a focal point for pronunciation discussions due to its concise structure: a strong first syllable with a short /ɪ/ and a brief second syllable ending in /k/. It avoids vowel repetition and has a steady, closed syllable pattern that makes it an ideal target for practicing cvn or CVC structures in speed drills.
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Clinic comes from the Greek klinikē, meaning “the art of healing,” from klinē meaning “bed, slope, clinic” and later “bedside.” The term entered Latin as klinica and then Old French as clinique, signifying a place for medical teaching or examination. In English, it originally described a place of medical instruction and demonstration in a university setting, later narrowing to a place where medical examinations occur. By the 18th and 19th centuries, clinic had gained traction to denote outpatient medical facilities, clinics as independent centers, and specialty clinics (e.g., gynecologic clinic). The progression reflects broader shifts in medicine toward outpatient care and community-based services, while the core sense of a place where clinicians assess and treat patients has remained stable. First known uses in English appear in medical texts of the late 1600s, with the modern sense solidifying through 19th–20th century medical literature and institutional naming.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "clinic" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "clinic" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "clinic"
-ick sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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