3 syllables: Ma, jes, tic. Stress on jes.
muh-JES-tik
/məˈdʒɛstɪk/
Majestic is pronounced muh-JES-tik (/məˈdʒɛstɪk/). It has three syllables (Ma-jes-tic), with the stress on "jes". Majestic is an adjective describing something grand, impressive, or worthy of admiration. It conveys a sense of noble beauty and scale, often applied to landscapes, structures, or demeanors. The term carries formal nuance, suggesting both splendor and dignity rather than mere size.
adjectiveMajestic is an adjective describing something grand, impressive, or worthy of admiration. It conveys a sense of noble beauty and scale, often applied to landscapes, structures, or demeanors. The term carries formal nuance, suggesting both splendor and dignity rather than mere size.
- Misplacing stress: You might put secondary emphasis on the second or third syllable when speaking quickly. Keep primary stress on the first syllable: MA-dʒis-tic. - Slurring the middle vowel: Some say /mæˈdʒɪstɪk/ or /ˈmædʒəs.tɪk/; aim for a crisp /ɪ/ in the middle syllable rather than a schwa. - Inaccurate end consonant: A soft or swallowed /k/ or turning /tɪk/ into /tɪ/ reduces the word’s crisp finish. Practice with precise tongue-tip contact for /t/ and a firm /k/ release.
How to Pronounce Majestic
"The majestic mountains rose above the valley, their snow-capped peaks catching the morning light."
"A majestic cathedral stood at the heart of the town, its arches and towers reaching toward the sky."
"The swan glided across the lake with a majestic calm that drew everyone's attention."
You pronounce it as /ˈmædʒ.ɪstɪk/ in many dialects, with primary stress on the first syllable. The two/three-syllable pattern is MA-jis-tic, where the /æ/ in the first syllable sounds like “cat,” the /dʒ/ is the “j” sound as in “judge,” and the ending /tɪk/ rhymes with “tick.” For reference you can listen to native speakers on Pronounce or Forvo, and compare US /ˈmædʒ.ɪstɪk/ with UK /ˈmædʒ.ɪstɪk/ and AU /ˈmædʒ.ɪs.tɪk/ to notice slight rhythm differences.
Common mistakes include shortening the middle syllable to /mɪ/ as in “mini,” producing a /mædʒɪstɪk/ with reduced clarity on the /dʒ/ or misplacing the stress as ma-JES-tic. Another frequent error is delaying the /t/ into a soft /d/ or tapping it, giving /mædʒɪsˈtɪk/ or /ˈmædʒəstɪk/. To correct: emphasize the first syllable with a crisp /dʒ/ and clearly enunciate /t/, keeping the final /k/ sounds.
US/UK/AU share the /ˈmædʒɪstɪk/ skeleton, but US tends to a rhotic bias in connected speech and slightly flatter vowels, UK may have a crisper /t/ and a more clipped rhythm, and AU often shows a broader, more even vowel quality with a marginally longer /æ/ and a smoother /ɪ/. Overall, the primary stress remains on the first syllable in all three.
The difficulty lies in delivering the crisp /dʒ/ onset after /mæ/ and maintaining a clean /tɪk/ ending while preserving the vowel quality in the middle /ɪ/. Some speakers mispronounce as /ˈmædʒɛstɪk/ or merge the middle syllable, causing a less defined three-syllable rhythm. Focus on the integrity of /mæ/ + /dʒ/ + /ɪ/ + /stɪk/ with even tempo and no vowel reduction in the unstressed syllables.
A key feature is the distinct contrast between the /dʒ/ sound and the /t/ in /-stɪk/. Ensure the /dʒ/ is a quick, voiced affricate before the unvoiced /t/, and avoid a blend that makes /dʒt/ or an overly aspirated /t/. The syllable boundary is MA-dʒis-tic, with a clear split between the middle /ɪ/ and the final /tɪk/.
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- US: tends toward stronger rhotics and slightly flatter vowels; keep /æ/ clear and maintain a light, almost unaspirated /t/. - UK: crisper /t/ release, slightly shorter middle vowel, less rhotic influence; ensure /æ/ remains bright and /dʒ/ is sharp. - AU: more even vowel quality, gentle tongue position, longer vowels overall; keep /æ/ bright and avoid overly retracted lips. Use IPA references /ˈmædʒɪstɪk/ (US), /ˈmædʒ.ɪs.tɪk/ (UK), /ˈmædʒ.ɪs.tɪk/ (AU).
Majestic comes from the French majestueux, from Latin maiesticus, derived from maiestas, meaning greatness or dignity, from maius (greater). The root maius yielded the English noun majesty in the medieval period, denoting royal power and splendor. By the 17th century, majestic acquired a broader adjectival usage to describe anything of grand or noble appearance beyond royal contexts. The word traveled through Old French into Middle English, retaining connotations of regal grandeur. Early uses appear in philosophical and literary texts that elevate nature and monuments as embodiments of majesty. Over time, majestic broadened to describe not only kings and palaces but landscapes, music, and performance that evoke awe and dignified presence.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Majestic" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Majestic" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Majestic"
-tic sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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