How to Pronounce Panic Attack
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Panic Attack Pronunciation
PAN-ik ah-TAK
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
PAN
stress here
ik ah
TAK
stress here
3 syllables
What is Panic Attack?
What is panic disorder? Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It causes repeated panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear, discomfort, ...
Definition sourced from MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
Questions About Panic Attack
How do you pronounce 'panic attack'?
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Say it like this: PAN-ik ah-TAK. The first word rhymes with 'can' and has the stress on the first syllable. The second word sounds like 'attack' with the stress on the second syllable. Together it's PAN-ik ah-TAK, with the strongest emphasis on that first PAN sound.
What are the syllables in 'panic attack'?
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Break it into four parts: PAN-ic ah-TAK. The word 'panic' has two syllables (PAN and ic), and 'attack' has two syllables (ah and TAK). When you say them together naturally, you'll notice the stress falls on PAN and TAK.
Which syllable gets the stress in 'panic attack'?
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The stress falls on the first syllable of each word: PAN-ic ah-TAK. People sometimes mistakenly stress the second syllable and say pa-NIC ah-TAK, but the correct way emphasizes PAN. Remember: it's PAN (stressed) ic (unstressed) ah (unstressed) TAK (stressed).
What's a common mispronunciation of 'panic attack'?
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People sometimes say 'pa-NIC' instead of 'PAN-ic,' putting the stress on the wrong syllable. You might also hear someone rush through it as one blur of sound. The correct way keeps both words clear and separate: PAN-ik ah-TAK, with emphasis on the first and last syllables.
What does the word 'panic' come from?
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The word 'panic' comes from Greek mythology and the god Pan, who was believed to inspire sudden, irrational fear in people and animals. Over time, 'panic' came to mean any sudden, overwhelming fear. The word has been used in English for hundreds of years to describe that kind of intense, rapid-onset fear.
What does 'panic attack' mean in everyday language?
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'Panic attack' describes a sudden episode of intense fear or anxiety that comes on quickly and feels overwhelming. Think of it as your body going into overdrive with worry and physical sensations for a short period of time. It's the medical way of naming that specific experience of sudden, intense fear.
How would you use 'panic attack' in a sentence?
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Here's an example: "The doctor explained that a panic attack is a sudden episode of strong fear." Or: "She learned the correct pronunciation of 'panic attack' in her medical terminology class." These sentences show how the term is used to name and discuss this specific experience.
Are there related words that use 'panic'?
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Yes! You might hear words like 'panicked' (adjective, meaning feeling panic) or 'panic disorder' (a medical condition involving repeated panic attacks). These words all share the same root and are pronounced with stress on that first PAN syllable, just like in 'panic attack.'