4 syllables: e, lec, tri, cal. Stress on lec.
il-EK-trik-uhl
/ɪˈlɛktɹɪkəl/
electrical is pronounced il-EK-trik-uhl (/ɪˈlɛktɹɪkəl/). It has four syllables (e-lec-tri-cal), with the stress on "lec". electrical is an adjective relating to electricity or electrical devices, circuits, or systems. It is used to describe things powered or operated by electricity, or phenomena associated with electricity. In pronunciation, the word often carries a secondary stress pattern that can affect rhythm in connected speech.
electrical is an adjective relating to electricity or electrical devices, circuits, or systems. It is used to describe things powered or operated by electricity, or phenomena associated with electricity. In pronunciation, the word often carries a secondary stress pattern that can affect rhythm in connected speech.
"The electrical engineer tested the circuit for faults."
"They installed a new electrical outlet in the kitchen."
"Electrical storms can cause power surges to equipment."
Pronounce as i-LEK-tri-kəl, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US ɪˈlɛk.trɪ.kəl, UK ɪˈlɛk.trɪ.kəl, AU ɪˈlɛk.trɪ.kəl. Start with a short, lax initial vowel like 'ih', then a clear L sound, followed by a crisp 'ehk' or 'lek' cluster, a relaxed 'tri' with a light 't', and finish with a reduced 'kəl'. Picture the mouth forming /ɪ/ then /ˈlɛk/ as a neat syllable, then /trɪ/ and a weak final /kəl/.
Common mistakes: 1) Placing primary stress on the first syllable as e-LEC-tri-cal; correct stress is on the second syllable: e-LEC-tri-cal. 2) Blurring the /ˈlɛk/ into /lək/; keep a light onset for /l/ and a clear /ɛ/ vowel in /lɛk/. 3) Overpronouncing the final syllable; ensure /kəl/ has a reduced, unstressed schwa-like end rather than a full vowel. Practice crisp consonant-timing: /l/ then /ɛ/ then /k/ then weak /əl/.
In US, UK, and AU, primary stress remains on the second syllable (e-LEC-tri-cal). Vowel quality differs: US often has a slightly tense /ɪ/ in the initial, and the /ɛ/ in /lɛk/ is bright; UK may have a marginally shorter /ɪ/ in /trɪ/ and crisper final /əl/. Australian tends to feature a flatter vowel in the first syllable and a more centralized or schwa-like final /əl/. Across accents, rhoticity affects the ending; US is rhotic with a pronounced /ɹ/ in nearby words, UK/AU typically non-rhotic in careful speech but may reveal linking R in rapid speech when followed by vowels.
The difficulty centers on fixing the secondary consonant cluster /lɛk.trɪ/ and the rapid sequence of unstressed syllables at the end. The /l/–/ɛ/–/k/ sequence requires precise tongue tip placement and a short, crisp /k/ release before the /əl/ ending. The /tr/ cluster in the middle can blend in casual speech, turning into /tr/ with a soft /ɹ-like? or a light /t/ depending on speaker. Maintaining the second-syllable stress while keeping the final /əl/ reduced is tricky for non-native speakers.
Yes. The challenge lies in sustaining the strong secondary stress pattern within a three-syllable word that ends with a weak, schwa-like final syllable. You must deliver a crisp /ˈlɛk/ nucleus without letting the following /trɪ/ blend too strongly with the /l/. Additionally, the sequence /əl/ often reduces to a schwa-ish sound; you should avoid a full vowel in the final syllable and instead allow it to shorten and relax. Keeping the middle /trɪ/ clear while final /əl/ remains light is key.
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- US: Maintain a rhotic flavor in connected speech while keeping the final /əl/ reduced. - UK: Slightly shorter /ɪ/ and crisper /l/ with a non-rhotic tendency; ensure linking with following vowels is natural. - AU: More centralized /ɪ/ and a flatter vowel quality; keep /k/ release clean, and keep /əl/ short. IPA references aid accuracy; aim for /ɪˈlɛk.trɪ.kəl/ across accents, but monitor timing and vowel quality. - Focus on the /lɛk/ clarity before the /trɪ/ bridge; avoid turning into /lük/ or /læk.trɪ.kəl/.
Electrical derives from the noun electricity, with the suffix -al forming an adjective. Electricity itself comes from the New Latin electricus, from the Greek elektron meaning amber, due to static electricity observed when amber was rubbed. The root elektron appeared in ancient Greek science to denote the property of attracting, notably in magnetism and electrostatic phenomena. The English term electricity emerged in the 17th century, borrowed from French électricité, reflecting the study and phenomena related to electric force. The suffix -al was added to form adjectives describing related things or properties; by the 19th century, electrical as a descriptor for devices, systems, and fields connected to electricity became common in engineering and industry. First known usage in English as an attributive adjective appeared in technical writing as electricity-based technology expanded, including electrical engineering, electric circuits, and electrical apparatus. Over time, electrical also gained metaphorical uses in contexts like ‘electrical excitement’ when describing lively environments or ‘electrical charge’ in attitudes, but in formal usage it most often remains tied to power, circuitry, and instrumentation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "electrical" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "electrical"
-cal sounds
-uel sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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