English pronunciation · Words Starting with A

Acerbic Pronunciation

Acerbic is pronounced uh-SER-bik, IPA /əˈsɛrbɪk/.

uh-SER-bik

US /əˈsɛrbɪk/  ·  UK /əˈsɜːbɪk/

Syllables: uh · SER · bik (3 syllables, stress on syllable 2)

adjective: Sharp and cutting in tone, or sour in taste.

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Acerbic in a Sentence

  • His acerbic reviews made him enemies at every theatre.
  • She has an acerbic way of ending a conversation.
  • The wine was thin and acerbic.

Common Mispronunciations of Acerbic

Not A-ser-bik

The middle syllable carries the beat, and the first shrinks to a quick uh.

Not uh-KER-bik

An s is what c gives before e, so the stressed syllable is SER. Hard c survives only before a, o, u, and r, as in acrid.

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