3 syllables: i, tal, ic. Stress on tal.
eye-TAL-ik
/aɪˈtælɪk/
italic is pronounced eye-TAL-ik (/aɪˈtælɪk/). It has three syllables (i-tal-ic), with the stress on "tal". Italic is a term describing text styled to slant to the right, used for emphasis or to denote foreign terms, and it also refers to an ancient script family. In typography, italic characters differ from their upright counterparts by slant and often distinct letterforms. As a word, it’s pronounced with two syllables and a short initial stress, bridging semantic nuance between typography and style choices.
Italic is a term describing text styled to slant to the right, used for emphasis or to denote foreign terms, and it also refers to an ancient script family. In typography, italic characters differ from their upright counterparts by slant and often distinct letterforms. As a word, it’s pronounced with two syllables and a short initial stress, bridging semantic nuance between typography and style choices.
- You may default to a flat, quick i-tuh-lik rhythm; slow down to ensure the second syllable carries the primary stress and the /æ/ is clear, avoiding a schwa in the middle. - Do not replace /æ/ with a more centralized vowel like /e/ or /ə/ in the TAL syllable; practice with minimal pairs that emphasize /æ/. - Final /ɪk/ can be devoiced or clipped in fast speech; rehearse with slow tempo, then increase speed while keeping /k/ audible and the tongue finishing behind the alveolar ridge.
"The book uses italic to indicate emphasis on certain terms."
"In mathematics, variables are often written in italics to distinguish them from upright constants."
"She highlighted the title by putting it in italics."
You say it as /ɪˈtæ.lɪk/ in US and UK dictionaries, with the primary stress on the second syllable: i-TAL-ic. Start with a short, lax i, then a bright æ in the second syllable, and finish with a light ɪk. Tip: push the tongue toward the front of the mouth, keep the jaw relaxed, and avoid tensing the lips. Audio references: consult reputable dictionaries or native speaker exemplars for precise cadence.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (ˈɪt-uh-lick) instead of the second, or turning the /t/ into a d-like stop in rapid speech. A second frequent slip is reducing the final /ɪk/ to a weak schwa, making it sound like ‘italik.’ Correct by emphasizing the second syllable with clear, crisp /tæ/ and finishing with a distinct /lɪk/ sound, keeping the /t/ as a true /t/ rather than a flapped or tapped variant.
US and UK share /ɪˈtælɪk/, but rhoticity can color the preceding vowel length slightly in some speakers; AU tends to be flatter with slightly more open vowels. The main variation is vowel quality and rhythm rather than consonant changes: the /æ/ in the second syllable can edge toward a more centralized æ in some UK varieties, while US often keeps a crisp /æ/. Final /k/ remains voiceless in all roots.
The challenge lies in the two-syllable rhythm and the mid-front vowel /æ/ paired with a clean final /k/. Some speakers reduce the middle syllable to a quick /lɪ/ or misplace the stress, yielding i-TA-lik instead of i-tal-IK. The balance between the stressed second syllable’s vowel and a precise final /k/ requires precise tongue positioning: the tip of the tongue nudges the alveolar ridge for /t/, while the back of the tongue lowers to allow the /ɪk/ vowel sequence.
Yes, the central feature is the strong, clear second syllable with /æ/ and the final /ɪk/ cluster. The stress pattern is fixed (ɪˈtælɪk), so you should land the second syllable with vibrancy and avoid merging it with the first. A precise, slightly rapid cadence helps maintain natural flow in connected speech, signaling you know the typographic term rather than a generic adjective.
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- US: keep rhotic vowels unaffected; emphasize the /æ/ with a bright jaw and a rounded but not exaggerated lip position. - UK: lean toward slightly shorter, crisper vowels and a marginally tighter mouth opening; keep /æ/ clear. - AU: lean toward a flatter, more monotone vowel pitch, with less movement in the mouth; keep /æ/ vivid but avoid over-articulation. Reference IPA as /ɪˈtælɪk/ across varieties; listen to native speakers for subtle rhythm differences.
Italic originates from Medieval Latin ital icus, from Italus (Italy). The term first appears in English in the 16th century to describe the script style used for Italian printers and typography. The word did not simply denote a direction but linked to the typographic shift that distinguished emphasis and foreign words from the surrounding text. The evolution reflects broader typographic experimentation in early modern printing when publishers labeled certain typefaces as ‘italic’ to set them apart from the ‘roman’ or upright style. Over time, ‘italic’ came to describe both the style and the script class as a whole, including the ligatures and letterforms characteristic of oblique or cursive fonts. In modern usage, ‘italic’ is standardized as the common descriptor for oblique type, with the term also appearing in computing and formatting specifications. The earliest known printed references to italic type trace to works in Italy and German-speaking regions where printers experimented with slanted letters to save space and add visual variety.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "italic" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "italic" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "italic"
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