3 syllables: Phleg, ma, tic. Stress on ma.
fleg-MAT-ik
/flɛˈɡmætɪk/
Phlegmatic is pronounced fleg-MAT-ik (/flɛˈɡmætɪk/). It has three syllables (Phleg-ma-tic), with the stress on "ma". Phlegmatic describes a person who is calm, unemotional, and not easily excited; showing little or slow response to stimuli. It conveys steadiness and a cool demeanor, often appearing reserved or indifferent. The term arises from ancient temperament theory and denotes a subdued, even-keeled temperament. (2-4 sentences, 50-80 words).
adjectivePhlegmatic describes a person who is calm, unemotional, and not easily excited; showing little or slow response to stimuli. It conveys steadiness and a cool demeanor, often appearing reserved or indifferent. The term arises from ancient temperament theory and denotes a subdued, even-keeled temperament. (2-4 sentences, 50-80 words)
How to Pronounce Phlegmatic
"Her phlegmatic response during the crisis surprised her colleagues."
"Despite the chaos around him, he remained phlegmatic and steady."
"The consultant’s phlegmatic manner helped defuse the heated debate."
Phlegmatic is pronounced /ˈflɛɡˌmætɪk/ in careful speech. The primary stress falls on the first syllable: FLEHG-. The first consonant cluster is /fl/ followed by the /ɛ/ vowel in the second position. The /ɡ/ is a hard velar stop before the /m/; avoid an aspirated break between /fl/ and /ɛ/. The suffix /-mætɪk/ rhymes with ‘static’ but with a soft /æ/ before /t/. Listen to a model: /ˈflɛɡˌmætɪk/.
Two common errors: (1) Misplacing the G: learners sometimes insert a dental or soft g like /dʒ/; keep the /ɡ/ as a hard velar stop after /flɛ/. (2) Mis-stressing the second syllable: avoid stressing /mæt/ instead of /flɛɡ/; the primary stress is on the first syllable, with a secondary emphasis on the /mætɪk/ portion in careful speech. Practice by isolating /ˈflɛɡˌmætɪk/ and then blend.
US, UK, and AU share /ˈflɛɡˌmætɪk/ as the core form, but rhoticity and vowel qualities vary: US typically maintains a clearer /æ/ in /mætɪk/ and a more pronounced /ɡ/ release; UK may reduce the /æ/ slightly and exhibit a crisper /t/ in final syllable; Australian tends toward non-rhoticity with a slightly broader vowel in /æ/ and a softer release of /t/. Still, the overall pattern remains: primary stress on the first syllable, then a secondary stress on the /mætɪk/ portion.
Three challenges: (1) The initial cluster /fl/ followed quickly by /ɛ/ and /ɡ/ tests your timing; ensure an unbroken glide from /f/ to /l/ into /ɛ/. (2) The /ɛm/ vs /æ/ distinction: speakers often substitute /iː/ or /eɪ/ for /æ/; keep /æ/ as in ‘cat’ before /tɪk/. (3) The suffix /-mætɪk/ can blend, making /tɪk/ softened; emphasize the /t/ and keep the /ɪ/ clear. Practicing with slow, then faster delivery helps stabilize these points.
Yes. In phlegmatic, the /ɡ/ is a hard velar stop immediately before /m/; there is no /dʒ/ or /ɡh/ sound. The sequence is /flɛɡ/ then /mætɪk/. Focus on crisp contact: make the /ɡ/ release before moving your tongue into /m/.
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Phlegmatic comes from the Late Latin phlegmaticus, which derives from the Greek phlegmatikos, meaning “irritable” or “to be affected by phlegm.” The root word phlegma refers to phlegm, one of the four humors in ancient Greek medicine, believed to produce a calm, sluggish, or sluggish temperament when dominant. In ancient theory, a phlegmatic person was thought to have an excess of phlegm, yielding a tranquil, cool, and emotionally restrained demeanor. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from a medical-humoral framework to a behavioral descriptor for temperament. The term entered English in the early modern period, retaining its sense of composure and restrained emotion, even as scientific understandings of physiology evolved. The word’s modern use emphasizes steadiness and emotional reserve rather than literal bodily humors, though etymological ties to “phlegm” persist in the core sense of stillness and lack of outward agitation.
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Words that rhyme with "Phlegmatic"
-tic sounds
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