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tonic

ton·ic/ˈtɑ.nɪk/adjective, noun

tonic is spelled T-O-N-I-C: 5 letters and 2 syllables (ton·ic). It appears 2.5 times per million words in written English, the 17,342nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, tonic means “Pertaining to tension, especially of the muscles” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).

How many letters and syllables are in tonic?

Letters5: T-O-N-I-C
Syllables2: ton·ic
In writing2.5 times per million words; the 17,342nd most frequent word form
Wrong spellings searchednone measured in search
Rhymes with
Same letters

Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.

How common is tonic?

Tonic appears 2.5 times per million words in written English, the 17,342nd most frequent word form in the list.

Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).

How do you pronounce tonic?

  • UK /ˈtɒnɪk/
  • US /ˈtɑ.nɪk/

Tonic has 2 syllables, split ton·ic in writing.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-tonic.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).

What rhymes with tonic?

The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as tonic from its last stressed vowel (/ɑnɪk/):

Spelled with the same letters in another order: ontic.

Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).

Forms of tonic

  • more tonic comparative
  • most tonic superlative
  • tonics plural, present, singular, he/she/it
  • tonicking participle, present
  • tonicked participle, past

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What does tonic mean?

The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).

adjective

  1. 1

    Pertaining to tension, especially of the muscles.

  2. 2

    Restorative; curative; or invigorating.

    The arrival of the new members had a tonic effect on the team.

  3. 3

    In a state of continuous unremitting action.

    Peter Redgrave (2007) Basal ganglia. Scholarpedia, 2(6):1825. GABAergic neurones in the basal ganglia output nuclei have high tonic firing rates (40-80 Hz).

  4. 4

    Pertaining to or based upon the first note of a diatonic scale.

  5. 5

    Pertaining to the accent or stress in a word or in speech.

  6. 6

    Of or relating to tones or sounds; specifically (phonetics, dated) being or relating to a speech sound made with tone unmixed and undimmed by obstruction, i.e. a vowel or diphthong.

noun

  1. 1

    A substance with medicinal properties intended to restore or invigorate.

    We used to brew a tonic from a particular kind of root.

  2. 2

    Tonic water.

  3. 3

    USdatedAny of various carbonated, non-alcoholic beverages; soda pop.

  4. 4

    Someone or something that revitalises or reinvigorates.

  5. 5

    The first note of a diatonic scale; the keynote.

  6. 6

    The triad built on the tonic note.

  7. 7

    A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.

verb

  1. 1

    archaicTo restore or invigorate.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

Tonic in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

LanguageWords
Germantonisch (pertaining to tension), anregend, belebend, kräftigend, stärkend (curative), Kräftigungsmittel (substance)
Portuguesetónico, tônico (curative), tónica, tônica (first note of a scale)
Spanishtónico (curative)
Frenchtonique, tonic (substance)

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.

Where does tonic come from?

From Ancient Greek τονικός (tonikós), from τόνος (tónos). 17th century writers believed health to be derived from firmly stretched muscles, thus tonic; the extension of tonic medicine appeared in the late 18th century. By surface analysis, ton(e) + -ic.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What to look up after tonic