3 syllables: Rheu, ma, tic. Stress on ma.
roo-MAT-ik
/ɹuˈmætɪk/
Rheumatic is pronounced roo-MAT-ik (/ɹuˈmætɪk/). It has three syllables (Rheu-ma-tic), with the stress on "ma". Rheumatic is an adjective describing conditions or symptoms related to rheumatism or inflammatory joint disease. It commonly refers to pain, stiffness, or swelling affecting joints or connective tissue, often used in medical or historical contexts.
adjectiveRheumatic is an adjective describing conditions or symptoms related to rheumatism or inflammatory joint disease. It commonly refers to pain, stiffness, or swelling affecting joints or connective tissue, often used in medical or historical contexts.
- You may place the stress incorrectly on the first or third syllable; aim for secondary stress on the second: ri-MA-tik. - Vowel quality in the stressed syllable often shifts toward a lax /ɪ/ or /ɛ/; target /æ/ in /ˌrɪˈmætɪk/. - Final consonant: don’t soften to /tɪk/ or drop the /k/; mouth closes with a strong /k/ release. - Be mindful of the /r/; in non-native English, the initial /r/ may be too rolled or too muted. - Don’t run the word together with the preceding term; insert breathing as needed to maintain clear syllable boundaries.
How to Pronounce Rheumatic
"Her rheumatic fever has left her with intermittent joint pain."
"The rheumatic patient was prescribed anti-inflammatory medication."
"Rheumatic symptoms can flare up after cold weather."
Rheumatic is pronounced ri-MA-tik in American and rhymes with 'semantic' but with stress on the second syllable. IPA US: /ˌrɪˈmætɪk/. UK: /ˌriːˈmæmɪtɪk/ is also heard, but a common UK variant places stronger emphasis on the second syllable with /ˌriːˈmætɪk/. Focus on the /r/ at the start, the /æ/ in the middle, and a clear final /k/.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing the stress, say ri-MA-tik (correct) instead of ri-ma-TIC. (2) Slurring the second syllable and turning it into ‘ree-MA-tic’ or ‘rih-MA-tik’ with a reduced vowel; ensure a crisp /æ/ in the stressed syllable. (3) Ending with an overemphasized or silent 'c'— pronounce final /k/ rather than delaying or softening it. Use a full vowel sound in the middle and stop cleanly after /k/.
US: /ˌrɪˈmætɪk/, stress on the second syllable; rhotic r pronounced clearly. UK: /ˌriːˈmæmɪk/ or /ˌriːˈmætɪk/, less rotherectic influence in some regions; vowel in second syllable often longer /iː/ before m. AU: /ˌrɪˈmæ̊tɪk/ with flatter vowels and a clearer /t/; non-rhotic tendencies are possible depending on speaker, but medical terminology tends to be standardized. Differences mainly in vowel quality and syllable length; ensure the /æ/ and final /k/ are distinct across accents.
The challenge lies in the three-syllable structure with a secondary stress and a hard /t/ at the end; avoid conflating with ‘rheum’ as in nasal /mɔː/ or ‘hematic’. The mid vowel /æ/ in the stressed syllable can be tense, requiring a precise tongue position, and the ending /k/ should be crisp, not followed by a vowel. Practicing the sequence ri-MA-tik with a clean /k/ helps prevent slurring.
A notable feature is the initial cluster: 'Rhe-' starts with an /r/ followed by a short vowel; many learners mispronounce as ree-WA-tic or ‘ree-hem-atic’. Keeping the first syllable unstressed and clearly enunciating the second with /æ/ helps. The distinction between /mæ/ in the second syllable versus the often-misread /meɪ/ in some variants is key, as is crisp enunciation of the final /k/.
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- US: maintain a strong rhotic /r/; stress the second syllable (/ˈmæ/). Use a crisp /k/ at the end. - UK: more clipped vowel lengths; /riːˈmæmɪk/ or /ˌriːˈmætɪk/ with less pronounced rhoticity in some varieties; keep /æ/ clear and avoid a drawn-out /iː/ sound in the second syllable. - AU: flatter intonation, less pronounced vowel shifts; ensure /æ/ remains clear and end with a strong /k/ release; avoid Australian Australian vowel shifts that affect /æ/ quality.
Rheumatic comes from the Late Latin rheumaticus, derived from Greek rheumatikos, meaning 'pertaining to rheumatism,' itself from rheuma meaning ‘a flowing, flux’ or ‘a swelling.’ The term entered English medical usage in the 18th–19th centuries as physicians sought to categorize pain and inflammation associated with joints and connective tissues. Early usage framed the word as describing a type of pain or disease attribute; over time, it broadened to describe any condition related to rheumatism, including symptoms and syndromes with inflammatory etiology. The root rheuma connects to the sense of flowing or flux within tissues, capturing the fluctuating nature of inflammatory pain that characterizes rheumatic conditions. In modern medical language, rheumatic is used both clinically (e.g., rheumatic fever, rheumatic arthritis) and descriptively in patient histories and literature, reflecting its long-standing tie to inflammatory joint disease and connective-tissue pathology.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Rheumatic" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Rheumatic"
-mic sounds
-tic sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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