4 syllables: Work, a, hol, ic. Stress on hol.
wur-kuh-HAH-lik
/ˌwɝkəˈhɑlɪk/
Workaholic is pronounced wur-kuh-HAH-lik (/ˌwɝkəˈhɑlɪk/). It has four syllables (Work-a-hol-ic), with the stress on "hol". A workaholic is a person who compulsively works long hours and prioritizes work over other aspects of life. It typically implies a negative tendency toward excessive labor and reduced balance, often at personal or social cost. The term blends work with an addictive-like inclination and is used both descriptively and critically in discussions of work-life balance.
nounA workaholic is a person who compulsively works long hours and prioritizes work over other aspects of life. It typically implies a negative tendency toward excessive labor and reduced balance, often at personal or social cost. The term blends work with an addictive-like inclination and is used both descriptively and critically in discussions of work-life balance.
"Despite her high status at the firm, she’s a workaholic who rarely takes vacations."
"The conference room was crowded with workaholics, all scrolling and typing late into the night."
"Parents warned their son not to become a workaholic, stressing the importance of downtime."
/ˈwɜːrkəˌhɒlɪk/ (US: /ˈwɜːrkəˌhɔlɪk/), with primary stress on WORK- and secondary on -hol-; start with a mid-central vowel in the first syllable, then a schwa-like 'ka', and end with 'hol-ik'. Mouth positions: /w/ lips rounded, mid-back vowel /ɜː/ or /ɜ/; /ə/ is relaxed; /h/ breathy onset before /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ depending on accent; final /k/ release. For clarity, imagine saying “WER” then “kuh-HOL-ick.” Audio reference: you can check Pronounce or Forvo entries of workaholic.
Two frequent errors: (1) stressing the second syllable too much, making it work-AH-uh-lick; keep primary stress on WORK-, with a lighter secondary on HOL-; (2) conflating /hɒl/ with /hɔːl/ or mispronouncing /ɒ/ as /ɑː/. Correct by practicing the transition between /kə/ and /hɒl/; keep /ə/ centralized and avoid adding a full vowel before /l/. Use minimal pairs like ‘work’ vs ‘workaholic’ to feel the rhythm.
In US, you’ll hear /ˈwɜːrkəˌhɔːlɪk/ with rhotic /ɜːr/, and the /ɔ/ in /hɔːl/ is rounded mid back. UK often uses /ˈwɜːkəˌhɒlɪk/ with non-rhotic /r/ and a shorter /ɒ/; AU tends toward /ˈwɜːkəˌhɒlɪk/ similar to UK but with more vowel tuning toward Australian vowels. Pay attention to rhoticity, /r/ in US; absence in UK/AU, and the quality of the /ɒ/ vs /ɔː/.
The difficulty stems from the tri-syllabic rhythm and the cluster /ˌhɒlɪk/ following a stressed /ˈwɜːr/. The -hol- sequence requires a clear /h/ followed by a short /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ before /lɪk/. Non-native speakers often misplace stress, reduce /ɜːr/ or mispronounce the heavy second syllable. Focus on keeping the /ˈwɜːrk/ stable while releasing the /ə/ before /hɒlɪk/ to avoid blending sounds.
A distinctive feature is the secondary stress on the -hol- word part, creating a three-beat rhythm in casual speech: WORK-a-holic. You’ll often hear a slight elongation on the first syllable and a quick, lighter -ka- before the hl- combination. The sona-tone flows from mid-close front to mid-open back vowels, requiring controlled breath to maintain clarity across the /ˈwɜːrkəˌhɒlɪk/ sequence.
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The term workaholic blends work with alcoholic, signaling an addictive tendency toward work. It first appeared in the 1970s in American slang to describe someone with a compulsive work pattern. The root word work comes from Old English weorc, related to labor and effort. The -holic suffix derives from Greek -holikos via -holic in the sense of ‘belonging to a habit or addiction,’ popularized in modern English to denote compulsive behavior (as in alcoholic, kleptomaniac). The coinage likely emerged in the context of rising corporate culture and long hours, with early uses appearing in journalism and self-help discourse. Over time, workaholic has taken on both descriptive and critical connotations, reflecting concerns about work-life balance. It is now widely understood as a nonclinical label indicating a pattern of excessive work that can be detrimental to health and relationships. The word’s prevalence intensified with the late 20th century globalization and the 24/7 economy, strengthening its association with modern workplace identity and burnout discussions.
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Words that rhyme with "Workaholic"
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