TAH-puh-kuhl
/ˈtɑpəkəl/
topical is pronounced TAH-puh-kuhl (/ˈtɑpəkəl/). Topical is an adjective describing matters of current interest or relevance, often relating to a specific subject or theme. It can also mean relating to a topical treatment in medicine or to a body surface area. In broader usage, it denotes things that are promptly current, newsworthy, or applicable to a particular topic. The term is frequently used in academic, media, and clinical contexts.
Topical is an adjective describing matters of current interest or relevance, often relating to a specific subject or theme. It can also mean relating to a topical treatment in medicine or to a body surface area. In broader usage, it denotes things that are promptly current, newsworthy, or applicable to a particular topic. The term is frequently used in academic, media, and clinical contexts.
- You often flatten the first syllable, producing /tɒp/ instead of a clear, short /ɒ/ plus a crisp /p/ release. Try a stronger stop-release before the vowel. - The middle syllable can be reduced too much, making /ˈtɒpɪkəl/ sound like /ˈtɒpɪl/; ensure the /k/ is separate and the /ɪ/ is short but present. - The final syllable often becomes a heavy /əl/; instead, keep it shallow: /-kəl/ with a light schwa and quick /l/. - You might add an unnecessary vowel before the final /l/, producing /ˈtɒpɪkəl/ with an extra vowel; practice the tight glottal or alveolar transition to avoid an extra sound.
"The conference focused on topical issues in climate policy."
"She provided topical recommendations for skin care treatments."
"The article discussed topical antibiotics and their effectiveness against resistant bacteria."
Pronounce as /ˈtɒpɪkəl/ (UK/US) with primary stress on the first syllable: TOP-i-cal. The vowel in the first syllable is a short, rounded /ɒ/ like 'hot' in British English and many American pronunciations before rhotic vowels. The second syllable reduces to /ɪ/ and the final syllable is schwa /ə/ followed by /l/. You’ll hear a clear onset T, then a short /ɒ/ vowel, then /pɪ/ and a final unstressed /kəl/ in rapid speech.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress as on the second syllable (to-PI-cal). 2) Merging /t/ and /ɒ/ into a dull /tɒ/ without releasing the plosive, making it sound like /tɒp-ɪkəl/. 3) Ending with an overpronounced /l/ instead of a subtle, syllabic /əl/. Correction: keep primary stress on /ˈtɒ/ and ensure a crisp /t/ release, then reduce the middle to /ɪ/ and finish with a light /əl/ (schwa + l).
US: /ˈtɑːpɪkəl/ or /ˈtɒpɪkəl/ with non-rhotic variations limited; UK: /ˈtɒpɪkəl/ with clear /ɒ/ and non-rhotic r; AU: /ˈtɒpɪkəl/ similar to UK but with flatter intonation and less rhotic vowel coloring. Key differences center on vowel quality in the first syllable: US tends toward /ɑ/ in some speakers, UK/AU retain /ɒ/. Plosive release and final syllable reduction remain consistent across accents.
Two common challenges: 1) The initial stressed /ˈtɒ/ requires precise articulation of the rounded open vowel, which some speakers approximate with /æ/ or /ɜ/. 2) The final unstressed /əl/ can become a fast schwa + dark /l/ blend, or a syllabic /l/ that changes the rhythm. Focus on crisp /t/ release, a short /ɒ/ or /ɑ/, and a reduced final /əl/ to maintain natural rhythm.
No, topical is non-rhotic in many accents; the final 'l' can be light or dark depending on the speaker. The word field involves a typical first-syllable stress pattern and a rapid, weak final syllable. For clarity, imagine TOP-i-cull with a light, quick final /əl/ rather than a fully articulated /l/.
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- US: Focus on a clear /ɒ/ (or /ɑ/ depending on region) and a non-rolled /l/ at the end; keep the final /əl/ light. - UK: Maintain /ɒ/ with crisp /t/ release and a light, quick /əl/; avoid overemphasizing the final /l/. - AU: Similar to UK but with flatter intonation; keep the same vowel in the first syllable and reduce the final /l/ to a soft /l/ or a near-syllabic /l/. Reference IPA forms: US /ˈtɒpɪkəl/, UK /ˈtɒpɪkəl/, AU /ˈtɒpɪkəl/; note rhoticity differences mostly affect vowels rather than consonants here.
Topical comes from the French topical, from Late Latin topicus, from the Greek topos meaning place, theme or topic. The root topos evolved into English as topical, originally used in philosophical and rhetorical contexts to denote something related to a place or place-based discussion. By the 17th–18th centuries, topical began to be used more broadly in medicine (pertaining to surface areas of the body) and in discourse to indicate relevance to a specific subject. The sense related to subject matter became dominant in modern English, especially in journalism, academia, and clinical contexts. The word retained its core meaning of relating to a topic or surface area, with the metaphorical leap from physical topicality to topical relevance. First known uses appear in technical and medical writings in Europe, then spreading into general English usage through the 19th and 20th centuries as communication intensified and the concept of topical relevance grew in public discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "topical" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "topical"
-cal sounds
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