2 syllables: Stri, cken. Stress on Stri.
STRIK-uhn
/ˈstɹɪkən/
Stricken is pronounced STRIK-uhn (/ˈstɹɪkən/). It has two syllables (Stri-cken), with the stress on "Stri". Stricken is an adjective describing someone affected by trouble, illness, or strong emotion, typically to a marked or distressed degree. It conveys a sense of impact or damage from an event, often used to describe people, landscapes, or situations that have been struck by hardship. The word implies a sudden, overwhelming reaction rather than a gradual one.
adjectiveStricken is an adjective describing someone affected by trouble, illness, or strong emotion, typically to a marked or distressed degree. It conveys a sense of impact or damage from an event, often used to describe people, landscapes, or situations that have been struck by hardship. The word implies a sudden, overwhelming reaction rather than a gradual one.
How to Pronounce Stricken
"The town was stricken by a sudden earthquake, leaving many homeless."
"She looked stricken after hearing the devastating news."
"The family was stricken with grief when their cottage burned down."
Stricken is pronounced with two syllables: STRI-ken. The primary stress is on STRI, so IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈstrɪkən/. The first syllable rhymes with “brick,” the second is a short “uh” (schwa) sound followed by “n.” Visualize: start with a quick, clipped STRI, then a soft uh-n. You can listen to native samples on Pronounce or Cambridge dictionary pages for audible confirmation.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (e.g., saying stri-ken with weak first syllable) and turning the second syllable into a full vowel instead of a reduced schwa. Another error is pronouncing the K as a hard consonant in rapid speech (strik-ken with too strong a ‘k’). Correction: keep STRI clearly stressed, let the second syllable be a quick, muted ‘ən’ (schwa-n), and practice with a quick, light release on the final n.
In US and UK, STRI-ken uses a clear short i as in “sit,” and the final n is nasal. US often has a slightly more rounded vowel in some speakers, UK may retain a tighter jaw and crisper final consonant. Australian speakers generally maintain the same two-syllable pattern, sometimes with a slightly reduced vowel quality in the second syllable. Overall, the rhyme with “brick-en” remains stable across accents.
The difficulty lies in balancing the short i vowel in STRI with a light, quick schwa in the second syllable and a clean final nasal. Learners frequently overarticulate the second syllable or stress it, which softens the intended contrast. The combination of a stressed first syllable and a reduced second syllable requires precise vowel reduction and timing—practice slow, then normal pace to stabilize rhythm.
One unique aspect is the rapid transition from a high-front short i to a neutral schwa in the second syllable. Keeping the lip position relaxed for the schwa prevents over-articulation. Also mind the final n: ensure the tongue taps or touches the alveolar ridge lightly for a clean nasal stop without adding extra voicing. IPA cue: /ˈstrɪkən/ with a crisp, short /ɪ/ then /ən/.
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Stricken comes from the past participle of the verb strike, from Old English strican or strongly Germanic roots. The word historically carried literal meaning of being hit or struck, then extended metaphorically to being emotionally or physically affected by a calamity. In Middle English texts, form variants like stricken or stricken were used to describe people or places that had suffered direct blows or misfortune. The figurative use evolved in the sense of “overwhelmed by emotion or distress” and became common in modern English by the 16th–18th centuries. The core sense retains a strong connotation of sudden impact, often with a poignant or tragic nuance, and remains a robust descriptor in both literary and everyday usage. First known printed uses appear in early modern English writings, with the sense of immediate impact on mood or circumstance appearing in the same period as the expansion of expressive vocabularies describing war, famine, and disaster. Over time, stricken has become a widely recognizable adjective in news reporting and narrative prose to convey severity of suffering or damage without explicit description.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Stricken" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Stricken" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Stricken"
-ken sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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