2 syllables: Ex, tinct. Stress on tinct.
ik-STINGKT
/ɪkˈstɪŋkt/
Extinct is pronounced ik-STINGKT (/ɪkˈstɪŋkt/). It has two syllables (Ex-tinct), with the stress on "tinct". Extinct is an adjective meaning no longer in existence or living, typically referring to species, languages, or practices that have died out. It describes something that once existed but has disappeared completely, leaving no living examples. The term is common in scientific, historical, and ecological discussions.
adjectiveExtinct is an adjective meaning no longer in existence or living, typically referring to species, languages, or practices that have died out. It describes something that once existed but has disappeared completely, leaving no living examples. The term is common in scientific, historical, and ecological discussions.
- Think you should pronounce the word with a silent second syllable; actually, it has two distinct syllables with stressed second. Say /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/ and avoid truncating the middle as in /ˈɪkstɪŋkt/ or /ɪksˈtɪŋkt/. - Confuse the /ŋk/ sequence as separate, yielding a paused feel; keep the nasal and stop tightly connected for a seamless /ŋkt/ cluster. - Neglect the final /t/ release; end with a crisp /t/ rather than a soft or glottal stop, especially in careful or formal speech. - Over-aspirate the initial /ɪ/ and reduce the aspirate on /t/; aim for a compact, brisk onset and balanced vowel sound. - In rapid speech, you may merge /t/ into the following word; practice with pauses to maintain clarity when speaking in a sentence.
How to Pronounce Extinct
"Scientists warn that several species could become extinct without urgent conservation efforts."
"The woolly mammoth is now extinct, with no living specimens left in the wild."
"If a language loses all fluent speakers, it is considered extinct."
Pronounced /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/. Start with a short, lax initial vowel /ɪ/ as in “kit,” then the /k/ release, followed by the stressed syllable /ˈstɪŋ/ with a clear tensing of the tongue for the /ŋk/ cluster, ending with /t/. The consonant cluster /st/ is pronounced with a strong, crisp release, and the final /kt/ is a tight, unreleased or lightly released consonant combination depending on speed. Think: ik-STINGKT. Practice by saying “ick” + “STING” + “KT” quickly together.” ,
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing stress, pronouncing it as ex-STINCT with the emphasis on the ending; (2) Softening the final /t/ or mispronouncing the /kt/ as just /k/ or /t/. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable /ˈstɪŋkt/ and articulate the /kt/ as a tight, two-part release, not an aspirated single sound. Ensure the /ŋ/ is velar and nasalized before the /k/ and avoid a glottal stop before /t/ in careful speech.
In US and UK, the two-syllable structure remains, with /ɪ/ in the first, /ˈstɪŋkt/ stressed; rhotic vs non-rhotic treatment doesn’t alter vowel quality inside this word much, but non-rhotic accents may have a less forceful /r/ involvement elsewhere, not affecting extinct directly. Australian pronunciation is similar to UK but with a slightly broader vowel in /ɪ/ and faster cadence in fluent speech. Overall, the core is /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/ across accents, with minor differences in vowel length and intonation.
Two main challenges: the consonant cluster /kst/ at the boundary (especially the /k/ + /t/ release) and the nasal /ŋ/ before the /kt/ sequence, which can blur if you don’t separate the nasal and stop. Focus on a precise tongue position: back of the tongue rises for /ŋ/, then moves quickly to release /k/ and /t/. Avoid an extended vowel before /kt/ and keep the stress stable on the second syllable.
Is the ‘x’ in extinct pronounced like a /k/ or /gz/? In extinct, the ‘x’ corresponds to /k/ + /s/ sequence, but here it is effectively represented by /k/ followed by a /st/ cluster; you do not pronounce an /gz/ sound. Focus on the two-part onset: /ɪk/ then /ˈstɪŋkt/; the ‘x’ is not a separate phoneme in this word.
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- US: tend to have a flatter vowel in /ɪ/ with a crisp, unreleased final /t/ in fast speech; ensure rhotic influence on surrounding vowels is minimal here since /r/ is not present. - UK: slight vowel reduction in connected speech, keep the /i/ like a short 'ih' and ensure the final /kt/ is clearly articulated, not slurred. - AU: similar to UK but often faster overall tempo; maintain the tight /ŋkt/ cluster and avoid adding extra vowels between /ŋ/ and /k/. - IPA references: US /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/, UK /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/, AU /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/. Focus on the non-rhotic tendency in the surrounding context; the headword itself remains stable.
Extinct comes from the Latin extinctus, past participle of exstinguere, meaning to extinguish or to quench. Ex- means out of, and stinguere is related to stinguere, to quench or extinguish, derived from the root considering fire or light going out. In Medieval Latin, extinctus carried the sense of putting out or ending; by the 15th century in English, extinct described things that no longer existed, especially species or practices. The word shifted slightly to emphasize the finality of disappearance, rather than mere cessation of activity. Its usage in biological contexts became stable in the 18th–19th centuries as taxonomy and natural history developed, with “extinct species” becoming a standard phrase in scientific literature. Today, it also appears in metaphorical senses (e.g., extinct memories) but retains its core meaning of total nonexistence in the physical or living sense, as opposed to being merely inactive or dormant.
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Words that rhyme with "Extinct"
-nct sounds
-ked sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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