3 syllables: E, met, ic. Stress on met.
im-ET-ik
/ɪˈmɛtɪk/
Emetic is pronounced im-ET-ik (/ɪˈmɛtɪk/). It has three syllables (E-met-ic), with the stress on "met". Emetic is a noun for a substance that induces vomiting. It can also describe something related to vomiting, such as an emetic agent used medically. In medical contexts, it denotes a agent or drug that causes emesis; in casual use, it may describe something nauseating. The term is technical, often found in pharmacology and toxicology discussions.
nounEmetic is a noun for a substance that induces vomiting. It can also describe something related to vomiting, such as an emetic agent used medically. In medical contexts, it denotes a agent or drug that causes emesis; in casual use, it may describe something nauseating. The term is technical, often found in pharmacology and toxicology discussions.
- Common mistake: stressing the second syllable or treating it as EM-eh-tik; correction: keep stress on the first syllable and produce a short, crisp /ɪ/ in the second. - Mistake: elongating the second syllable to /ˈɛm.ɪˈtiːk/; correction: maintain /tɪk/ with a short, brisk vowel. - Mistake: mispronouncing /m/ and /ɪ/ as separate, overly separated sounds; correction: keep a smooth transition from /m/ into /ɪ/ with a compact articulation. - Mistake: final /k/ is silent or too explosive; correction: end with a light, glottal-like stop if American English favors /k/ release, but ensure it’s not aspirated heavily. Practice to keep the final /ɪk/ tight and quick.
"The doctor prescribed an emetic to induce vomiting after the ingestion of the toxin."
"She avoided the idea of the emetic side effects, fearing further distress."
"The emetic properties of certain plants were well documented by early physicians."
It’s pronounced EM-uh-tik, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈɛm.ɪ.tɪk/. Start with a clear /ɛm/ like ‘em’ in 'embellish' and glide into a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable, then a final /tɪk/. Pay attention to not elongating the second syllable; keep it brisk and light. If you’re listening, you’ll hear a crisp, short second syllable: EM-ɪ-tik.
Two frequent errors are: misplacing stress (say EM-eh-tik with equal weight) and overpronouncing the second vowel, turning /ɪ/ into /iː/. Correct by keeping the second syllable short: /ˈɛm.ɪ.tɪk/. Also avoid dropping the final /k/ or making the /t/ too aspirated. Practice a quick, light stop for the /t/ before the final /ɪk/: /tɪk/ should be compact and unstressed.
Across US/UK/AU, the pronunciation remains /ˈɛm.ɪ.tɪk/ in all three, with minimal vowel quality shifts. US tends to have a slightly flatter /æ/ versus UK’s more rounded /æ/; the rhoticity doesn’t affect this word as there’s no R after the first syllable. Australian tends to be more clipped with final /ɪk/. Overall, primary stress stays on the first syllable in all. Listen for a sharp /t/ rather than a flapped /ɾ/ in casual speech.
The difficulty lies in the short, unstressed second syllable /ɪ/ followed by a crisp /tɪk/ cluster; non-native speakers may reduce /ɪ/ or misplace the stress. Also, the combination of /m/ + /ɪ/ requires controlled lip closure to avoid a nasalized or rounded vowel. Paying attention to the quick, light /t/ and ensuring the /ɪ/ remains short helps prevent common mispronunciations.
A unique feature is the light, clipped second syllable /ɪ/ that contrasts with the more open /ɛm/ of the first. Ensure the second vowel does not become a full /iː/ or a schwa. The /t/ should be a distinct, unaspirated or lightly aspirated stop before the final /ɪk/. Visualize the mouth: lips relaxed for /m/, high front tongue position for /ɪ/, and a brief touch of /t/ before /ɪk/.
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- US: more rhotic, but /ɛm/ remains unaffected; pronounce /ɪ/ as a short, lax vowel, keep /t/ unaspirated before /ɪk/. - UK: slightly crisper /t/ and more clipped vowels; keep /ɪ/ short and avoid a centering diphthong. - AU: vowel quality can be flatter; keep the second syllable short and the final /ɪk/ compact. Across accents, the syllable count remains three, the stress stays on the first, and the /t/ can be unreleased or lightly released depending on speech style. IPA references: /ˈɛm.ɪ.tɪk/ for all major accents.
Emetic comes from the Greek word amis, later Latin emeticus, from the verb emetere, meaning to vomit. The Greek prefix a- means ‘without’ or ‘not’ but in this context it relates to emesis as the act of vomiting; however, etymologists trace emesis to empainein ‘to vomit’ from ei- (out) and me- (to send). The term entered English medical vocabulary in the early modern period as pharmacology and toxicology formalized drug actions. In English usage, emetic has stabilized as a noun and adjective: an emetic (noun) is a vomiting-inducing agent; emetic (adjective) describes agents or effects related to emesis. First known uses appear in pharmacopoeias and medical texts of the 17th–18th centuries, with ongoing usage in toxicology to denote substances administered to provoke emesis or studies of such responses.
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Words that rhyme with "Emetic"
-tic sounds
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