2 syllables: in, flict. Stress on flict.
/ˌɪnˈflɪkt/
Say it backInflict means to cause something unpleasant or undesirable to be suffered by someone or something. It involves imposing injury, harm, or hardship, often intentionally or through force, and is used in formal or serious contexts. The word typically appears with agents or circumstances that bring about negative effects on others or objects.
- Misplacing stress or thinking it’s IN-flict; keep stress on the second syllable: in-FLICT. - Breaking the /fl/ cluster with an audible stop or insert an extra vowel (in-fli-ct); practice holding /f/ then immediately blend into /l/ without a vowel. - Voicing the final /t/ or turning it into a /d/ (inflict-ed); focus on voiceless end: /t/.
"The hurricane inflicted widespread damage on the coastal town."
"Doctors warned that delaying treatment could inflict lasting harm."
"The bully inflicted pain on his victim during the playground incident."
Pronounce as in-FLIKT, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: ɪnˈflɪkt. Begin with a short, lax vowel /ɪ/ as in 'in', then the stressed /flɪk/ cluster where /l/ follows the initial vowel, and end with /t/. Your mouth makes a light lip closure for the /f/ sound, then quickly releases into /l/ and /ɪ/ before the /k/ and final /t/. The t is unreleased or lightly released in careful speech. Audio reference: you can compare with Cambridge or Oxford audio entries for ɪnˈflɪkt.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying in-FLICT with incorrect emphasis) and mispronouncing the /fl/ cluster as /fr/ or breaking it into /f/ and /l/ separated by a vowel. Also, some learners insert an extra vowel after /fl/ (in-fli-kt) or pronounce the final /t/ as a strong release in all contexts. Correct by keeping a tight /fl/ sequence: start with /ɪn/ then a crisp /ˈflɪkt/ with a quick, almost unvoiced /t/ at the end. Practice with minimal pairs and mouth position mirror checks.
In US/UK/AU, the core is /ɪnˈflɪkt/. The main differences are vowel length and rhotacism: US tends to keep /ɪ/ as a lax short vowel, with a clear final /t/; UK often has a slightly shorter /ɪ/ in some dialects and can put subtle vowel quality on /ɪ/ in fast speech; AU typically mirrors US but may have a slightly more centralized /ɪ/ and a softer final /t/ leading to a t-glide in very casual speech. Overall, the rhythm and stress pattern stay the same, but vowel qualities and consonant release can vary.” ,
The difficulty comes from the tight consonant cluster /fl/ immediately after the stressed vowel, plus the abrupt /kt/ ending, which can be challenging for non-native ears. Learners often mispronounce as in-FLECT or inf-lict with a weaker /l/ or a voiced /d/ replacement. Focus on maintaining airflow through the /f/, then quickly cup the tongue for /l/ while gliding into /ɪ/ before the /k/ and a crisp final /t/. IPA cues help you lock the exact sounds.
The unique attribute of inflict is that the stress lands on the second syllable (in-FLICT). The final /t/ is typically a voiceless alveolar plosive, not a /d/, and in careful speech may be released quickly or even unreleased in rapid speech. Keep the tongue blade close to the alveolar ridge for /t/ and avoid voicing. IPA anchor: ɪnˈflɪkt; ensure the /fl/ cluster is tight and the vowel before l is short.
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- US: clear, unvoiced final /t/, crisp /fl/ cluster, slightly lighter on the second vowel. - UK: often closer vowels, potential shorter /ɪ/ in fast speech; keep non-rhoticity patterns in mind if you’re comparing to US. - AU: similar to US, maybe subtler vowel quality; aim for a clean, quick /t/ release; ensure /ɪ/ in the second syllable remains short.
Inflict comes from Middle English inflechen, from Old French inflechir, which meant to bend, fold, or strike down. The root inflect- derives from Latin influere, with in- meaning ‘in’ and flectere meaning ‘to bend’ or ‘to turn.’ Over time, the sense shifted from bending or folding to imposing harm or punishment, aligning with the idea of forcing something upon someone. The first recorded use in English appeared in the 14th century, originally in legal and religious contexts to denote imposing penalties or burdens. By the 17th–18th centuries, inflict broadened to imply causing injuries, pain, or trouble in broader contexts, including medical, psychological, and social harms. The word maintained a strong, formal tone, often appearing in prose, policy discussions, and legal discourse, before integrating into common modern usage in both written and spoken English.
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Help others use "inflict" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "inflict" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "inflict" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "inflict"
-nct sounds
-ict sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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