How to Pronounce Catholic

To pronounce "catholic", say CATH-ol-ic — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈkaθ(ə)lɪk/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

catholic

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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3

Syllables

8

Letters

/ˈkaθ(ə)lɪk/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “catholic”

"catholic" has 3 syllables: cath-ol-ic. It rhymes with non-catholic, if that helps it stick.

What does catholic mean?

adjective

  1. Of the Western Christian church, as differentiated from e.g. the Orthodox church.

    “Christmas is celebrated at different dates in the Catholic and Orthodox calendars.”

  2. Of the Roman Catholic church in particular.

    “Catholic churches are built differently than Protestant ones.”

adjective

  1. Universal; all-encompassing.
  2. Pertaining to all kinds of people and their range of tastes, proclivities etc.; liberal.

Synonyms

eclecticuniversal

Words that rhyme with catholic

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

non-catholic

Related words

broad-mindeddenominationalcatholicismchristianchurchpaxuniversityconfessional

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "catholic"?▾

"Catholic" has 3 syllables: cath · ol · ic.

What is the IPA transcription of "catholic"?▾

The IPA transcription of "catholic" is /ˈkaθ(ə)lɪk/.

What does "catholic" mean?▾

Catholic: Of the Western Christian church, as differentiated from e.g. the Orthodox church.

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