3 syllables: Le, thar, gic. Stress on thar.
luh-THAHR-jik
/ləˈθɑɹdʒɪk/
Lethargic is pronounced luh-THAHR-jik (/ləˈθɑɹdʒɪk/). It has three syllables (Le-thar-gic), with the stress on "thar". Lethargic is an adjective describing a state of sluggishness, inactivity, or a dull, unenergetic demeanor. It implies a reduced level of alertness or responsiveness due to fatigue, illness, or dislike of exertion. The term is often used in medical, psychological, and everyday contexts to denote slowed mental or physical activity.
adjectiveLethargic is an adjective describing a state of sluggishness, inactivity, or a dull, unenergetic demeanor. It implies a reduced level of alertness or responsiveness due to fatigue, illness, or dislike of exertion. The term is often used in medical, psychological, and everyday contexts to denote slowed mental or physical activity.
"After the long flight, I felt lethargic and struggled to stay awake through the meeting."
"The patient appeared lethargic, with minimal movements and slow speech."
"Her lethargic response suggested she wasn’t fully engaged in the discussion."
Pronounce as le-THAR-jic with the primary stress on the second syllable: /ləˈθɑːr.dʒɪk/ in US and UK, and /ləˈθæɹ.dʒɪk/ in some Australian varieties. Start with a light, relaxed initial /l/ followed by /ə/ (schwa). The key is the /ˈθɑːr/ cluster: the dental fricative /θ/ followed by a long open back rounded vowel /ɑː/. Then the /r/ blends into /dʒ/ as in “jar” + “kick.” End with /ɪk/. Audio examples: you’ll hear the stressed /ˈθɑːr/ portion clearly; practice slowly, then increase speed while keeping the dental fricative precise.
Common errors: misplacing stress (saying le-THAR-gic with stress on the first syllable), pronouncing /θ/ as /s/ or /t/ or omitting the /dʒ/ sound (saying /-djɪk/). Corrections: ensure primary stress on the second syllable, use a crisp dental fricative /θ/ (not /f/ or /t/), and pronounce the /dʒ/ as in “judge” followed by /ɪk/. Also avoid reducing the /ɑːr/ to a quick /ar/ – hold the rhotic /r/ for a moment to maintain the /ɑːr/ quality before the /dʒɪk/ ending.
In US English, you’ll typically hear /ləˈθɑːr.dʒɪk/, rhotic with a strong /r/ in /ɑːr/. UK English often yields /ləˈθɑː.dʒɪk/ with non-rhoticity affecting the /r/ (slightly weaker or linking but still present in many accents). Australian tends toward /ləˈθæɹ.dʒɪk/ or /ləˈθɑː.dʒɪk/ depending on regional vowel quality, with less precise /ɹ/ and a more centralized vowel in some speakers. Focus on preserving the /θ/ and /dʒ/ clusters while noting slightly different quality in the second syllable vowel and rhoticity.
The difficulty lies in the initial /l/ plus the dental fricative /θ/ followed by the heavy /ɑːr/ vowel sequence and the /dʒ/ onset of the final syllable. Many speakers mispronounce the /θ/ as /t/ or /f/, or merge /ɑːr/ into /ar/ or drop the /r/ in non-rhotic varieties. The consonant cluster /r.dʒ/ can also be challenging when transitioning from the vowel nucleus to the affricate. Practice sequencing: l + ə + θ + ɑː + r + dʒ + ɪk; keep the tongue blade near the upper teeth for /θ/ and release into /ɑːr/.
Does the word shrink into a single blurred syllable in fast speech? Not typically in careful speech. You’ll still perceive the two primary vowel syllables and the /dʒ/ onset in casual talk, though the /ə/ in the first syllable may be reduced and the /r/ may be less pronounced in non-rhotic accents. Your goal is to keep the /θ/ precise and the /dʒ/ distinct even when speaking quickly; otherwise the word can sound like le-tharg-ik or leth-arg-ic, obscuring the /θ/ and /dʒ/ sounds.
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US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; keep a clear /ɹ/ after /ɑː/ when possible; vowel /ɒ/ often becomes /ɑː/ before /r/. UK: often non-rhotic; /r/ may be silent unless followed by a vowel; /ɑː/ is crisp and long; AU: variable rhoticity; some speakers merge /ɹ/ with a tapped approximation; often vowels are more centralized; maintain the /θ/ and /dʒ/ integrity across accents. IPA references: US /ləˈθɑːr.dʒɪk/, UK /ləˈθɑː.dʒɪk/, AU /ləˈθæɹ.dʒɪk/; focus on dental fricative /θ/ and affricate /dʒ/; ensure tongue blade touches upper teeth for /θ/; release of /dʒ/ is a brief, voiced affricate like “judge” followed by i/k.
Lethargic comes from the Greek lethargikos, from léthargia meaning forgetfulness or forgetfulness-inducing. It blends lethargia (forgetfulness, dullness) with the Greek combining form -ikos. The root léthargia derives from Léthē (the River Lethe in Greek myth, a water of forgetfulness) and argos, meaning lazy or inactive; the river Lethe symbolically erases memory, contributing to the sense of dulled awareness. The term appeared in English medical usage by the 18th century, initially describing profound sleepiness or coma-like states. Over time, it broadened to describe mental sluggishness or lack of energy not tied to an explicit medical condition. The core sense—reduced arousal and motor activity—has remained stable, even as nuance shifted toward everyday idiomatic use to mean simply “feeling very tired.” Modern usage spans clinical descriptions and casual commentary about mood or motivation, but it retains the core implication of diminished energy and responsiveness.
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