Pronunciation Guide • English (from Greek)
How to Pronounce arctic
Difficulty: medium
IPA Transcription
/ˈɑːrktɪk/
Why is it so hard to pronounce?
ARK-tik. Two syllables. The first C is often omitted in speech, making it "AR-tik" — which is considered non-standard. The word has two Cs and both represent two separate sounds: ARK + TIK.
💡 Pro Tip for arctic
ARK-tik. Say both the K and T sounds. Don't say "AR-tik".
Listen to the Native Audio
To hear the exact pronunciation of arctic by a native speaker, use the Pronouncer engine below.
Hear 'arctic' Audio Now →Word Origins
The term arctic originates from Greek "arktikos" (of the north). Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.