How to Pronounce “psychic”
Free audio in American, British, and Australian English.
▶ Hear it pronouncedIPA Transcription
- American (US)
- /ˈsaɪkɪk/
- British (UK)
- /ˈsaɪkɪk/
What “psychic” means
noun — A person who possesses, or appears to possess, extrasensory abilities such as clairvoyance, precognition and telepathy, as well as potentially interact externally using their minds or souls through telekinesis or teleportation, or who appears to be susceptible to paranormal or supernatural influences.
Pronunciation Notes
The p is silent. “psychic” comes through Greek, where ps- was a single sound English never adopted. The p is dropped: the word begins on /s/.
Where the stress falls. “psychic” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈsaɪkɪk/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "psychic" mean?
psychic (noun): A person who possesses, or appears to possess, extrasensory abilities such as clairvoyance, precognition and telepathy, as well as potentially interact externally using their minds or souls through telekinesis or teleportation, or who appears to be susceptible to paranormal or supernatural influences.
How do you pronounce "psychic" in American vs British English?
Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "psychic", /ˈsaɪkɪk/, 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 "psychic"?
/ˈsaɪkɪk/ in American English, /ˈsaɪkɪk/ in British English.
Which syllable is stressed in "psychic"?
“psychic” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈsaɪkɪk/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.
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