3 syllables: Ex, pli, cit. Stress on pli.
ik-SPLIS-uht
/ɪksˈplɪsət/
Explicit is pronounced ik-SPLIS-uht (/ɪksˈplɪsət/). It has three syllables (Ex-pli-cit), with the stress on "pli". Explicit means stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion. It often describes information, instructions, or messages that are direct, unambiguous, and openly conveyed. In use, it can carry a neutral or slightly assertive tone depending on context.
adjectiveExplicit means stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion. It often describes information, instructions, or messages that are direct, unambiguous, and openly conveyed. In use, it can carry a neutral or slightly assertive tone depending on context.
"The contract contains explicit terms about data privacy."
"Her parents gave explicit instructions not to open the package."
"The movie contained explicit scenes that were flagged for mature audiences."
Pronounce it as /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/. The stress falls on the second syllable: ex-PLIS-it. Start with a short, lax 'i' in the first syllable, then a crisp 's' and a clear 'plis' cluster, followed by a 't' ending. Keep the tongue high for the /ɪ/ and slide into the /pl/ cluster without adding extra vowels between the consonants. Audio references: you can listen on Pronounce or Forvo for native-sounding examples.
Common errors include: (1) misplacing stress, saying ex-PLIS-it with either equal emphasis or stress on the first syllable. (2) rounding the /ɪ/ to a lax vowel like /i:/ or a reduced sound; keep the short /ɪ/. (3) mispronouncing the /ks/ as a hard /k/ followed by an /s/ without linking; practice the cluster /ksp/ by blending quickly. So say /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/ with a tight /ksp/ transition and clear /t/ at the end.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/ remains, but vowel length and rhoticity differ slightly. US tends to be more rhotic with a clearer /r/ in connected speech, UK tends to non-rhotic pronunciation in some dialects (though not a factor here since r is not present), and AU generally aligns with non-rhotic but with vowel shifts that can shift the /ɪ/ slightly. The /ɪ/ in the first syllable may be pronounced shorter in faster speech; the /i/ at the end stays short. Overall, the stem and the /ks/ cluster stay crisp in all three, with subtle vowel quality shifts.
Two main challenges: the consonant cluster /ksp/ after the first vowel can trap speakers into inserting a vowel or misplacing the /s/ and /p/ timing; and the /ɪ/ in the second syllable is short and quick, which can cause vowel reduction if spoken too rapidly. Also, the second syllable stress requires keeping energy on the /plɪs/ while ending with a quick /ɪt/—neither softly nor overly crisp. Practice with slowed, then normal pace to stabilize the cluster and vowel timing.
The word hinges on a distinct syllabic break: ex-PLIS-it. The secondary stress is not present; rather, you’re distributing primary stress on the second syllable. The /ks/ sequence can be challenging; keep it as a single, rapid consonant cluster /ksp/ instead of separating it into /k s p/ with a vowel. Mouth position should be: lips neutral for /ɪ/, teeth lightly touching for /s/, tongue blade for /l/, and tip for /t/. IPA reference /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/.
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Explicit derives from Latin explicitus, past participle of explicare, meaning to unfold, explain, or set forth clearly. Explicare is formed from ex- (out) and plicare (to fold) or plicus (folded), implying the act of unfolding something from folded state into clear, outward form. In Latin philosophy and rhetoric, explicare referred to explaining a concept by laying it bare and unrolling it for the listener. In Late Latin and Early Modern English, explicit broadened from a purely mathematical or logical sense of “unfolded” to a broader communicative sense of “stated plainly.” By the 15th–16th centuries, explicit appeared in English to denote statements, rules, or instructions that were directly expressed and not hidden or implied. Modern usage retains both senses: explicit in statements that are clearly defined, and explicit in content that is graphic or unambiguous, sometimes with a stronger, more emphatic or authoritative tone. The word’s pronunciation remains stable with stress on the second syllable (ex-PLIf-icit), reflecting its Latin-descended rhythm and the shift of stress typical of English derivatives from Romance roots.
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Words that rhyme with "Explicit"
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