What is topic? Pronunciation and usage in English

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

Definition & pronunciation of topic

topicnoun

/ˈtɒpɪk/
Definition & pronunciation of topic

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "topic" in English! Here's a breakdown:

1. Syllables: "Topic" has two syllables:

  • top (like the word "top" of a table)
  • -ic (like the word "magic")

2. Pronunciation:

  • "Top": Say "top" as you would in the word "top." It’s a short, clear "t" sound followed by "op."
  • "-ic": This syllable is a bit trickier. It's pronounced like the word "magic." It’s a short “i” sound followed by a “k” sound.

3. Together:

Put it all together, and you get: TOH-pik

Here's a breakdown with sounds:

  • /tɒpɪk/ (This is the phonetic transcription - the standard way to represent pronunciation in writing)

Tips for getting it right:

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable ("top").
  • Don't over-elongate: Both syllables should be relatively short.
  • Listen to examples: The best way to learn is to hear it. You can easily find audio pronunciations on:

Would you like me to:

  • Say the word for you?
  • Give you more examples of words with similar pronunciations?

Usage and examples with the word topic in English

Let's break down how to use the word "topic" in English. It's a really versatile word! Here's a breakdown of its different uses, with examples:

1. As a Noun (the most common use):

  • Meaning: A subject or theme that is being discussed or written about. It's the central idea.
  • Examples:
    • "Let's talk about the topic of climate change." (The subject is climate change)
    • "The topic of the presentation was global warming." (Global warming was the subject)
    • "I'm researching a topic for my essay – ancient Egypt." (Ancient Egypt is the subject)
    • "This chapter explores the topic of artificial intelligence." (Artificial intelligence is the focus)

2. As a Verb (less common, but important):

  • Meaning: To bring up or mention a subject.
  • Examples:
    • "Can we topic the issue of overtime pay?" (Can we bring up the issue of overtime pay?)
    • "She topped the conversation on politics." (She started the conversation about politics.)
    • "Don't topic controversial subjects at dinner." (Don’t bring up controversial topics at dinner).

3. Phrases Using "Topic":

  • "Topic of discussion": The subject being discussed. "The topic of discussion was the new company policy."
  • "Topic of debate": The subject being argued over. “The topic of debate is whether to invest in renewable energy.”
  • "Topic sentence": (In writing) The sentence that introduces the main idea of a paragraph. "The topic sentence of this paragraph is that pollution is a serious problem."
  • "Raise a topic": To introduce a subject. “I wanted to raise the topic of my concerns about the project.”
  • "Change the topic": To shift the subject of a conversation. “Let’s change the topic – I don’t want to talk about that.”
  • "On the topic of...": Used to introduce a subject that’s related to what you were previously talking about. “On the topic of travel, have you ever been to Japan?”

4. Contextual Uses & Nuances:

  • Formal vs. Informal: "Topic" is generally a fairly neutral word. It’s suitable for most situations.
  • Brainstorming: "Let's brainstorm some topics for our project."
  • Meetings/Presentations: “What’s the topic of the agenda for this meeting?”

Here's a table summarizing the key uses:

Use Part of Speech Meaning Example
Subject Noun The central subject being discussed "The topic is the economy."
Introduce Verb To bring up a subject "Let's topic the budget."
Phrases Noun/Verb Related phrases with “topic” “Topic of discussion…”

Tips for Using "Topic" Correctly:

  • Be clear about what you’re referring to: Make sure it’s obvious what the “topic” is.
  • Consider synonyms: Sometimes “subject,” “theme,” “issue,” or “matter” might be a better fit depending on the context.

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

  • What are you using "topic" in? (e.g., writing an essay, having a conversation, giving a presentation?)
  • Can you give me a sentence you're struggling with that includes "topic"?

Synonyms for the word topic

Idioms of the word topic

off topic
not appropriate or relevant to the situation
  • That comment is completely off topic.
  • He keeps veering off topic.
on topic
appropriate or relevant to the situation
  • Keep the text short and on topic.
  • Let's get back on topic.

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