What is sick? Pronunciation and usage in English

sick means . Learn how to pronounce and use sick through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of sick

sickadjective

/sɪk/
Definition & pronunciation of sick

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "sick" in English. It's a tricky one because it can vary slightly depending on where you are and how it's used. Here's a breakdown of the most common pronunciations:

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (Slang "Sick"):

  • Sounds like: "sik" (rhymes with "bike")
  • Breakdown:
    • "si" - Pronounced like the "si" in "sit."
    • "k" - Pronounced as a hard "k" sound.
  • Emphasis: The emphasis is generally on the first syllable ("sik").

2. The "Sick" Meaning "Ill" (Medical):

  • Sounds like: "sick" (rhymes with "kick")
  • Breakdown:
    • "s" - Pronounced like the "s" in "sun."
    • "i" - Pronounced like the "i" in "bit."
    • "k" - Pronounced as a hard "k" sound.
  • Emphasis: The emphasis is on all three syllables ("sick").

3. A Slightly Less Common Variation (Also "Sick" - Ill):

  • Sounds like: "sihk" (rhymes with "block")
  • Breakdown:
    • "s" - Pronounced like the "s" in "sun."
    • "i" - Pronounced like the "i" in "bit."
    • "k" - Pronounced as a hard "k" sound.
  • Emphasis: The emphasis here is on the first two syllables ("sihk").

Here's a quick way to hear the differences:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • In what context are you trying to pronounce "sick"? (e.g., are you using it as slang, or referring to feeling unwell?)

Usage and examples with the word sick in English

Let's break down how to use the word "sick" in English. It's a really versatile word with multiple meanings, and its usage has evolved quite a bit over time, particularly in slang. Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. Medical/Literal Meaning (Most Traditional)

  • Definition: Feeling unwell; having an illness.
  • Examples:
    • “I have a sick headache.”
    • “She’s sick in bed with the flu.”
    • "He looked sick after eating that spicy food."
  • Tone: Formal and directly referring to physical illness.

2. Slang - "Amazing" or "Cool" (Very Common Today)

  • Definition: Used to express strong enthusiasm, excitement, or approval. It's essentially a more emphatic way of saying “awesome,” “cool,” “amazing,” or “fantastic.” This is by far the most common way "sick" is used now.
  • Examples:
    • “That guitar solo was sick!” (meaning it was amazing)
    • “Dude, your new car is sick!” (meaning it’s really cool)
    • “The views from the top of the mountain are sick!” (meaning they're incredible)
  • Tone: Informal, often used among younger people. It can be playful and enthusiastic.

3. Slang - “Bad” or “Terrible” (Less Common Now, but Still Used)

  • Definition: Originally meaning “bad” or “poor quality.” It’s sliding out of favor as its slang meaning is now more dominant.
  • Examples:
    • “That movie was sick.” (meaning it was terrible) – Less common now.
    • “This burger is sick.” (meaning it's awful) – Less common now.
  • Tone: Informal, expressing disapproval. You're more likely to hear this from older generations or in specific subcultures.

4. Slang - “Exceptionally Good” (Rare, More Regional)

  • Definition: (Regional, particularly in some parts of the US) Used to describe something exceptionally good – often food or a performance. Think of it as a very strong compliment.
  • Examples:
    • “That pizza is sick!” (meaning it’s unbelievably delicious) – More likely in the South.

Important Notes and Considerations:

  • Context is EVERYTHING: The meaning of "sick" depends entirely on the context of the conversation and who is using it.
  • Audience: Be mindful of your audience. Using "sick" in a formal setting or with someone unfamiliar with the slang could be confusing or awkward.
  • Evolution of Language: Slang terms change rapidly. "Sick" has gone through a significant shift in meaning over the past few decades.

Resources for Further Exploration:

To help me give you more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking about? (e.g., a conversation with friends, writing a story, a professional setting?)
  • Are you trying to use "sick" to describe something positive, negative, or neutral?

Synonyms for the word sick

Idioms of the word sick

be sick
(especially British English)to bring food from your stomach back out through your mouth
  • I was sick three times in the night.
  • She had been violently sick.
be worried sick; be sick with worry
to be extremely worried
  • Where have you been? I've been worried sick about you.
  • She was worrying herself sick about the exams.
fall sick
(formal)to become sick
  • A week later he fell sick and died.
  • He fell sick with yellow fever.
make somebody sick
to make somebody angry or full of horror
  • His hypocrisy makes me sick.
  • Her attitude makes me sick.
(as) sick as a dog
(informal)feeling very sick; vomiting a lot
    (as) sick as a parrot
    (British English, humorous)very disappointed
      sick at heart
      (formal)very unhappy or disappointed
        sick to your stomach
        feeling very angry or worried
        • Nora turned sick to her stomach on hearing this news.
        • It makes me sick to my stomach to hear such stupid attitudes.
        feeling that you want to vomit

          Practice with vocabulary sick

          Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

          1. Due to the sudden change in temperature, several employees at the office reported feeling quite ___________ and had to leave early.
          2. The project manager declared he was ___________ of the team's constant delays and demanded immediate improvements in efficiency.
          3. After working for over twelve hours straight, the software developer felt completely ___________ and struggled to concentrate on the final debugging.
          4. Please inform human resources if you are feeling ___________ and unable to attend the mandatory training session tomorrow.

          Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

          1. After consuming the contaminated food, many attendees at the conference started to feel ___________. a) healthy b) vibrant c) ill d) sick e) energetic

          2. The constant technical glitches in the new system made the IT support staff ___________ dealing with complaints. a) enthusiastic about b) sick of c) content with d) tired of e) keen on

          3. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, the patient continued to feel extremely ___________ throughout the night, experiencing high fever and body aches. a) robust b) peak c) sick d) vigorous e) strong

          4. The marathon runner was visibly ___________ after crossing the finish line, needing assistance to walk and rehydrate. a) invigorated b) refreshed c) revitalized d) exhausted e) rested

          5. The rough sea journey caused many passengers to feel ___________, with several individuals needing to use motion sickness bags. a) cheerful b) ecstatic c) nauseous d) buoyant e) serene

          Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

          1. Original: "Her persistent coughing and fever indicate that she is not well." Rewrite using 'sick' or a related word form: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ \Answer: sick
          2. Answer: sick
          3. Answer: fatigued
          4. Answer: unwell

          Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

          1. After consuming the contaminated food, many attendees at the conference started to feel ___________. c) ill d) sick

          2. The constant technical glitches in the new system made the IT support staff ___________ dealing with complaints. b) sick of d) tired of

          3. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, the patient continued to feel extremely ___________ throughout the night, experiencing high fever and body aches. c) sick

          4. The marathon runner was visibly ___________ after crossing the finish line, needing assistance to walk and rehydrate. d) exhausted

          5. The rough sea journey caused many passengers to feel ___________, with several individuals needing to use motion sickness bags. c) nauseous

          Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

          1. Original: "Her persistent coughing and fever indicate that she is not well." Rewrite using 'sick' or a related word form: "Her persistent coughing and fever suggest she is quite sick." (Alternative: "Her persistent coughing and fever suggest she has fallen sick.")

          2. Original: "The CEO expressed his extreme frustration with the repeated delays in project completion." Rewrite using 'sick' or a related word form: "The CEO declared he was sick of the repeated delays in project completion."

          3. Original: "Mr. Jenkins was unable to attend the board meeting today due to a sudden onset of illness." Rewrite (do not use 'sick'): "Mr. Jenkins was indisposed and unable to attend the board meeting today due to a sudden onset of illness." (Alternative: "Mr. Jenkins was unwell and unable to attend the board meeting today due to a sudden onset of illness.")

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