How to Pronounce “dialectic”

American (US)

/ˌdaɪəˈlektɪk/

British (UK)

/ˌdaɪəˈlektɪk/

noun — Reasoning that advances by setting opposing arguments against each other.

Example: The chapter reads as a dialectic between two schools.

Where the stress falls. “dialectic” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˌdaɪəˈlektɪk/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌdaɪəˈlektɪk/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "dialectic" mean?

dialectic (noun): Reasoning that advances by setting opposing arguments against each other. For example — The chapter reads as a dialectic between two schools.

How do you pronounce "dialectic" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "dialectic", /ˌdaɪəˈlektɪk/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "dialectic"?

/ˌdaɪəˈlektɪk/ in American English, /ˌdaɪəˈlektɪk/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "dialectic"?

“dialectic” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˌdaɪəˈlektɪk/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.