3 syllables: Nu, cle, ic. Stress on Nu.
NOO-klee-ik
/ˈnuː.kliː.ɪk/
Nucleic is pronounced NOO-klee-ik (/ˈnuː.kliː.ɪk/). It has three syllables (Nu-cle-ic), with the stress on "Nu". Nucleic is an adjective relating to or constituting the nucleus and especially to nucleic acids in biology. It is used to describe things pertaining to cellular nuclei, genetic material, or the organization of nucleic components. In context, you’ll typically see it in phrases like nucleic acids or nucleic matter, indicating foundational or core biological structure.
adjectiveNucleic is an adjective relating to or constituting the nucleus and especially to nucleic acids in biology. It is used to describe things pertaining to cellular nuclei, genetic material, or the organization of nucleic components. In context, you’ll typically see it in phrases like nucleic acids or nucleic matter, indicating foundational or core biological structure.
- You might flatten the first syllable to /nuː/ without the preceding yod, producing /ˈnuːlɪk/; fix by releasing a short yod /j/ after /n/ to create /njuː/ at the start. - Another error is turning /li/ into a dull /lɪ/ or not releasing the /i/ fully; practice with careful contrastive drills: /li/ vs. /lɪ/ and keep the tongue flashing to the alveolar ridge for /l/. - Finally, rushing the final /ɪk/ can merge with /li/; ensure the final syllable ends crisply with a short /k/ and focused mouth closure. Mini exercises: say ‘new’ + ‘leak’ slower, then blend gently into /ˈnjuː.li.ɪk/.
"Nucleic components form the genetic material that governs inheritance."
"Researchers studied nucleic economic processes, focusing on the nucleus and its control centers."
"Nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, are essential for storing and expressing genetic information."
Pronounce it as /ˈnjuː.li.ɪk/ in most contexts. Put primary stress on the first syllable: NUU-lee-ik. The first vowel is the long /uː/ as in 'new' but formed with a yod glide to the following /l/. The middle /li/ is light, and the final /ɪk/ is a quick, clipped 'ic.' Keep the tongue high for the /uː/ and shift to a light alveolar /l/. Audio reference: consider repeating after a native speaker reading “nucleic acids” in a biology lecture. IPA cue: US /ˈnuː.li.ɪk/.
Common mistakes include flattening the first syllable to /nuː/ with no onset gender of the yod, rendering it as /nuːˈlɪk/ or /ˈnuːlɪk/. Another mistake is misplacing the /j/ sound, turning it into /ˈnjuː.lɪk/ or omitting the /l/ after the vowel. Correct by ensuring a light /l/ immediately after the /ː/ vowel and keeping the third syllable short: /ˈnjuː.li.ɪk/. Practice saying ‘new’ + ‘leak’ quickly to feel the glide into /lɪk/.
In US English, you pronounce /ˈnuː.li.ɪk/ with a clear long /uː/ in the first syllable and a light, unstressed final /ɪk/. UK and Australian accents often preserve a similar pattern but may have a slightly shorter /uː/ or a more rounded vowel, especially in non-rhotic contexts where the /r/ is not present. The primary difference is vowel quality and slight consonant rounding. The stress remains on the first syllable across these accents.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable structure with a long first vowel, followed by the /li/ sequence and a final /ɪk/. The initial /n/ cluster with a long /uː/ can be tricky for speakers who expect a hard vowel or who connect the syllables too quickly, causing the /l/ to blend with the /ɪk/. Focus on maintaining a distinct /li/ syllable and crisp final /ɪk/.
Nucleic contains a long first vowel followed by a light /li/ and a final /ɪk/. The key is not to reduce the /li/ into a quick /lɪ/ but to keep it as a separate, lightly stressed syllable: /ˈnjuː.li.ɪk/. You should hear a clear separation between NU- and LEE- in careful speech, avoiding merging the first and second vowels.
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Nucleic comes from the noun nucleus, which itself derives from Latin nucleus meaning 'kernel' or 'core.' The suffix -ic forms adjectives meaning 'pertaining to' or 'having the nature of.' The term began to appear in scientific contexts in the 19th and 20th centuries as biology and chemistry increasingly described the cellular nucleus and the discovery of nucleic acids. Early uses linked to ‘nucleic’ as a descriptor for structures inside the nucleus or for substances composed of or related to nucleic acids (DNA, RNA). As molecular biology matured, nucleic acids became central to genetics, and the adjective nucleic arose in phrases like nucleic acids, nucleic metabolism, and nucleic processes to specify relationships to the nucleus and its genetic material. Its precise sense now is broadly understood as pertaining to nuclei or nucleic acids and their roles in biology and genetics; the word is most commonly encountered in scientific literature and advanced biology education.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Nucleic" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Nucleic"
-ick sounds
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