3 syllables: de, li, cto. Stress on li.
dil-IK-toh
/dɪˈlɪktoʊ/
delicto is pronounced dil-IK-toh (/dɪˈlɪktoʊ/). It has three syllables (de-li-cto), with the stress on "li". Delicto is a Latin legal term meaning 'involving a crime' or 'of the offense.' In English usage it appears in phrases like 'in delicto' or 'delict' (the noun) and often relates to wrongful acts. It carries formal, antiquated or academic tone and is typically found in legal, philosophical, or classical discussions.
Delicto is a Latin legal term meaning 'involving a crime' or 'of the offense.' In English usage it appears in phrases like 'in delicto' or 'delict' (the noun) and often relates to wrongful acts. It carries formal, antiquated or academic tone and is typically found in legal, philosophical, or classical discussions.
"- The party argued that he acted in delicto, thus bearing responsibility for the wrongdoing."
"- In delicto, the defendant admits fault within the confines of the statute."
"- The doctrine distinguishes acts of omission from acts in delicto."
delicto is pronounced de-LIC-to, with the main stress on LIC. In IPA: US: də-ˈlɪk-toʊ; UK: dɪ-ˈlɪk-təʊ. Start with a clear d sound, then a light e or schwa, then LICK as in 'lick', then to with a short o. The final syllable is unstressed in British English. A quick audio reference would be: /dəˈlɪk.təʊ/ (UK) or /dɪˈlɪk.toʊ/ (US).
Common mistakes: (1) Misplacing the stress, saying de-LIC-to with wrong emphasis; ensure LIC carries the main stress. (2) Vowel reduction in the first syllable, pronouncing it as ‘day-’ or ‘dee-’ instead of a lighter ‘de-’ or ‘də-’. (3) Lengthening the final ‘o’ too much or turning it into ‘oh’ in all accents. Correction: pronounce də-ˈlɪk-toʊ in US or dɪ-ˈlɪk-təʊ in UK, with a short, crisp -to and a lifted LIC. In Australian English, keep the final -o as a short to mid back rounded vowel.
US: də-ˈlɪk-toʊ with rhoticity preserved in surrounding vowels; final -o often tense. UK: dɪ-ˈlɪk-təʊ, non-rhotic, final vowel is a short o, stress on LIC. AU: typically dɪ-ˈlɪk-təʊ with Australian vowel flattening, but keeps final -o as a rounded mid back vowel; less rhotic influence. IPA references help: US /dəˈlɪk.toʊ/, UK /dɪˈlɪk.təʊ/, AU /dəˈlɪk.təʊ/; all share LIC as stressed syllable.
The difficulty lies in the two consonant clusters and the Latin syllable structure. The LIC cluster requires a crisp, almost dental L followed by a clear I, then a plosive -k- before the -to. The final -to may be reduced differently by accents (to vs tə). Place your tongue high for ‘lɪk’ and ensure a short, unstressed second syllable in many English pronunciations. Practicing with minimal pairs helps.
Why is the ‘del-’ prefix pronounced with a light schwa in many English renditions? Because in loanwords from Latin, English often reduces initial vowels to a schwa to ease articulation in rapid speech, especially after consonants like d. For careful diction, rehearse de- as /də-/ or /dɪ-/ and keep LIC as a heavy syllable with a crisp /lɪk/. This distinction helps in formal readings where precision matters.
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Delicto comes from Latin delicto, from delicere ‘to trifle, slip, fall into error’ (literally ‘to fall into fault’). In Latin, delicto is the ablative or dative form of delictum, meaning ‘fault, offense, wrong.’ The root delict- traces to proto-Italic *dheh1-leik- “to strike, fault” and is related to delictum in medieval Latin law meaning a fault or crime. Over time, in medieval and early modern Europe, terms like delicto were embedded in legal maxims and scholastic treatises to describe wrongdoing within a specific moral or juridical frame. In English, delicto emerged primarily through Latin phrases in law and theology, retaining its formal, archaic tone. First attested in Latin texts centuries ago, it appeared in English-language legal writings via translations and glossaries, maintaining a sense of formal culpability rather than everyday wrongdoing. Today, delicto is mostly encountered in legal, literary, or philosophical discussions, preserving its precise, ceremonial flavor. It is often paired with “in delicto” to indicate guilt in the act itself rather than mere intent. It can appear in learned phrases like “in delicto, culpa levat” (not a standard modern phrase but illustrative of the idea that guilt may be established by the act).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "delicto" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "delicto"
-cto sounds
-tor sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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