How to pronounce oligosemy
Say it like OL-ih-goh-see-mee. Oligosemy has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oligosemy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OL
- ih
- goh
- see
- mee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oligosemy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- gohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- seeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- meeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of oligosemy
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OL-ih-goh-see-mee.
What does oligosemy mean?
- The quality or state of having a few meanings, as opposed to having a single meaning or many meanings.
Where does oligosemy come from?
From oligo- (“few”) + -semy (the second element in monosemy and polysemy).
Questions about saying oligosemy
How do you pronounce oligosemy?
Say OL-ih-goh-see-mee. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑlɪɡoʊˌsimi/. In British English it is /ˈɒlɪɡəʊˌsiːmi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oligosemy?
Oligosemy has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OL). Broken into parts: OL · ih · goh · see · mee.
Is oligosemy pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈɒlɪɡəʊˌsiːmi/ (OL-ih-goh-see-mee).