Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

atonic

/eɪˈtɒnɪk/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.32 in modern English

Syllables: aton-ic
IPA: /eɪˈtɒnɪk/

8

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

adj

not having tone (pitch)

adj

Lacking muscle tone.

adj

Characterized by atony, or want of vital energy.

noun

A sound with lack of tone or vocality.

Dated

Example Sentences

"Some syllables are distinguished by an absence of tone; they are said to be atonic or to have a neutral tone."
"an atonic disease"

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-)der. English a- Proto-Indo-European *ten- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *tónos Proto-Hellenic *tónos Ancient Greek τόνος (tónos) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós) Ancient Greek τονῐκός (tonĭkós) English tonic English atonic From a- + tonic.

Usage

Dated

Inflected Forms

more atonic (comparative) most atonic (superlative) atonics (plural)

Derived Forms

atonia atonically atonicity atony

Frequently Paired Words

atonal subtonic

Synonyms

unaccented

Rhymes With

electronic chronic iconic sonic ironic tonic demonic harmonic ionic platonic supersonic masonic

Questions

How do you pronounce atonic?: The recorded pronunciation is /eɪˈtɒnɪk/.
What does atonic mean?: unstressed
Where does atonic come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-)der. English a- Proto-Indo-European *ten- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *tónos Proto-Hellenic *tónos Ancient Greek τόνος (tónos) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós) Ancient Greek τονῐκός (tonĭkós) English tonic English atonic From a- + tonic.

How to pronounce atonic

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “atonic”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/eɪˈtɒnɪk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “atonic”.
Repeat and practice — Say “atonic” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.