3 syllables: me, di, cal. Stress on me.
MED-uh-kuhl
/ˈmɛdəkəl/
medical is pronounced MED-uh-kuhl (/ˈmɛdəkəl/). It has three syllables (me-di-cal), with the stress on "me". Medical describes anything relating to medicine or the medical profession. It also functions as a noun or adjective (e.g., medical student, medical records) and often appears in clinical, scientific, or healthcare contexts. The term implies formal, clinical, or institutional associations rather than layperson or casual usage.
Medical describes anything relating to medicine or the medical profession. It also functions as a noun or adjective (e.g., medical student, medical records) and often appears in clinical, scientific, or healthcare contexts. The term implies formal, clinical, or institutional associations rather than layperson or casual usage.
"She started a medical internship after completing medical school."
"Doctors reviewed her medical history before prescribing treatment."
"The hospital opened a new medical wing dedicated to cancer research."
Break it into three syllables: ME-di-cal. Primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈmed.ɪ.kəl/ (US) or /ˈmɛd.ɪ.kəl/ (UK/AU). The middle vowel is a short i sound /ɪ/, and the final syllable uses a schwa: /kəl/. For clear articulation, start with the lips neutral, quickly relax the jaw to produce /ˈmed/, then glide into /ɪ.kəl/ with a light, unstressed ending. Practicing with audio mirrors helps lock the rhythm.
Two common errors: (1) stressing the wrong syllable, saying me-DI-cal instead of ME-di-cal; (2) mispronouncing the final /l/ as a clear, bright /l/ or adding an extra vowel, leading to /ˈmed.ɪ.kəl/ being stretched into /ˈmed.ɪ.kəlɪ/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, end with a light /kəl/ rather than an aspirated or syllabic l. Focus on a quick, clipped /kəl/ rather than a full vowel at the end.
In US, UK, and AU, the main variation is vowels in the first syllable: US /ˈmed.ɪ.kəl/ with a mid front vowel, UK/AU /ˈmɛd.ɪ.kəl/ with a lower first vowel; rhoticity is generally non-rhotic in UK accents but variable in high-register US speech. The subsequent /ɪ/ and /kəl/ are broadly similar, but Australians may have slightly raised /e/ or flatter /ɪ/ depending on region. Stress remains on the first syllable; the final schwa is common across all variants.
The difficulty centers on three elements: (1) three-syllable rhythm with primary stress on the first syllable; (2) a quick, unstressed middle /ɪ/ combined with an unstressed final /kəl/, which can lead to vowel reduction or a stronger /l/ if not careful; (3) the final cluster /kəl/ requiring a light, quick approach to avoid an exhausted end. Practicing with minimal pairs and recorded feedback helps you balance clarity with speed while preserving natural rhythm.
Unlike some two-syllable adjectives ending with -cal (e.g., practical), medical retains a distinct three-syllable structure with primary stress on the first syllable. The middle vowel /ɪ/ is short and strict, not lengthened, and the ending /kəl/ blends quickly rather than forming a stand-alone syllable. The overall cadence is clinical and precise, which in practice means tighter articulation on /med/ and a light, clipped ending to maintain flow in professional discourse.
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Medical originates from Latin medicina, meaning the art of healing, from mederi 'to heal' and cura 'care'. The root med- appears in words such as medicine, medical, and medic. The term entered English via Old French and Latin scholarly usage, gaining prominence in the medieval and early modern periods as formal disciplines in universities and churches sought to categorize knowledge about the body and healing. Through centuries, medical carried the sense of systematic, evidence-based care associated with physicians and institutions. In modern usage, medical is almost always tied to formal healthcare systems, clinical practice, medical education, and the broader biomedical sciences, distinguishing clinical or everyday health matters from lay or informal health talk.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "medical" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "medical" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "medical"
-dic sounds
-te) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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