How to pronounce "synthetic"

synthetic

Adjective
American
/sɪnˈθɛtɪk/

Syllable Breakdown

syn thet ic

How natives say synthetic

British
/sɪnˈθɛtɪk/

Syllable Breakdown

syn thet ic

How natives say synthetic

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with 'sin' like the word 'sin' (/sɪn/).

  • Say 'the' as in 'them' but with a soft 'th' (/θɛ/).

  • End with 'tic', similar to 'tick' (/tɪk/).

Common Mistakes

  • syn-the-tic (stress misplacement)

  • sin-the-tic (missing soft 'th')

  • syn-thi-tic (incorrect vowel sound)

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with 'sin' as /sɪn/.

  • Say 'the' with a soft 'th' as /θɛ/.

  • Finish with 'tic', pronounced as /tɪk/.

common mistakes

  • same as American

FAQ

Is the first 'sy' pronounced like 'sigh'?

No, it is pronounced as 'sin' /sɪn/.

Where is the stress in 'synthetic'?

The stress is on the second syllable, 'thet'.

Do I pronounce the 'th' as in 'the'?

The 'th' is voiceless, like in 'thin', /θ/.

Definition

synthetic

Made by humans, not natural.

Word Family

synthesis

/ˈsɪnθəsɪs/

noun

Combination of parts

Example: The synthesis of ideas.

synthesize

/ˈsɪnθəsaɪz/

verb

To make something by synthesis

Example: They synthesize new materials.

synthetically

/sɪnˈθɛtɪkli/

adverb

In a synthetic manner

Example: It is synthetically produced.

Key Pronunciation Differences

'synthetic' ends in /ɪk/, not /sɪs/ like 'synthesis'.

'synthetic' uses /tɪk/, 'synthesize' ends in /saɪz/.

'synthetic' has stress on 'thet', not 'the' like 'synthetically'.

Pro Tips

Th Sound Practice

Practice the 'th' /θ/ sound by placing your tongue between your teeth and blowing air.

Stress On Second Syllable

Remember to stress 'thet' by saying it slightly louder and longer.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Synthetic

achieve

/əˈtʃiv/

artificial

/ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/

biotechnology

/ˌbaɪ.oʊ.teɪˈnɑː.lə.dʒi/

challenge

/ˈtʃælɪndʒ/

chemical

/ˈkɛmɪkəl/

chemistry

/ˈkɛmɪstri/

cyberspace

/ˈsaɪbərˌspeɪs/

difference

/ˈdɪfərəns/

Other Categories

Test Your Pronunciation On Words Within Other Categories

adjoin

abroad

ability

agenda