Psychic (noun) refers to a person who claims to have abilities to perceive information beyond ordinary senses, such as sixth sense, clairvoyance, or telepathy. It can also describe things relating to the psyche or mind, though less commonly. The term is often used in discussions of paranormal phenomena or fictional contexts, and may convey skepticism depending on usage. In everyday speech it remains a noun for a practitioner, or an adjective in phrases like psychic readings or psychic abilities.
US: rhoticity affects surrounding sounds but not the core; UK/AU: generally non-rhotic in isolation, but in connected speech you may hear a tiny vowel linking in over-extended phrases. Vowel shifts: /aɪ/ in US often slightly fronter; UK/AU may be slightly more centralized. Consonants: final /k/ is aspirated in stressed syllables; in careful speech you’ll hear a stronger puff of air. IPA references: US /ˈsaɪ.kɪk/; UK /ˈsaɪ.kɪk/; AU /ˈsaɪ.kɪk/. Focus on crisp final /k/ across accents.
"The psychic told me she sensed a upcoming turning point in my life."
"He consulted a well-known psychic to gain insight into his dreams."
"Some people believe psychics can communicate with spirits after death."
"In the novel, the protagonist develops psychic powers that unlock hidden memories."
Psychic derives from the Greek word psychikos meaning 'of the soul' or 'bodily spirit,' related to psyche meaning 'soul, mind.' The term was adopted into English via Latin psychicus in the late 17th century, initially tied to the science of the soul and later to paranormal phenomena. In the 19th and 20th centuries, 'psychic' increasingly described individuals claiming extrasensory perception (ESP) or clairvoyance, aligning with popular spiritualist movements. The contemporary sense keeps both its classical root in mind/soul and its modern association with paranormal claims, often used in fiction and media to denote mysterious mental powers. First known use in print appears in late 18th to early 19th century medical and philosophical discourse, with broader popularization in astrology and supernatural fiction by mid-20th century.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Psychic" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Psychic"
-tic sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈsaɪ.kɪk/ with stress on the first syllable. Start with the long I sound /aɪ/ as in 'eye,' then a clean /k/ followed by a short /ɪ/ and a final /k/. To articulate, keep the tongue high for /aɪ/ and snap the /k/ immediately after, avoiding any vowel in the second syllable. Listen to native audio to reinforce the initial diphthong and final voiceless stop.
Two frequent errors are: 1) Turning /ˈsaɪ.kɪk/ into /ˈsaɪ.kɪk/ with a lengthened or tense final vowel, which makes it sound like 'psy-licked.' Keep /k/ final and avoid adding anything after the last /k/. 2) Misplacing the stress or flattening the diphthong /aɪ/ into a pure /a/ or /i/. Ensure you start with /aɪ/ and transfer energy smoothly into the /k/.
In US/UK/AU, the main feature is rhoticity and vowel quality. The /ˈsaɪ/ onset is similar across, with /aɪ/ diphthong quality slightly different: US often has a tighter fronting, UK may exhibit a slightly more centralized /aɪ/. The final /k/ remains voiceless in all. Non-rhotic accents may reduce post-vocalic coloration in nearby words, but in 'psychic' the /k/ remains crisp. Overall, the word is non-rhotic in standing alone forms, but is similarly realized across major varieties.
The difficulty lies in the combination of a strong diphthong /aɪ/ followed quickly by a short, clipped /ɪ/ and final voiceless /k/. This can cause the speaker to blend sounds or overemphasize the second syllable. Beginners often add an extra vowel or mis-tap the /k/ due to the rapid consonant cluster. Focus on keeping the first syllable weight while delivering a precise, energized final /k/.
No, 'psychic' pronounces all letters; there are no silent letters here. The word is pronounced with three phonemes across two syllables: /ˈsaɪ/ and /kɪk/. The final 'c' is realized as a voiceless velar stop /k/. The challenge is maintaining the crisp /k/ after the short /ɪ/ without introducing a vowel between /ɪ/ and /k/.
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