How to pronounce polysyllabic
Say it like pol-ee-sih-LAB-ik. Polysyllabic has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (LAB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce polysyllabic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pol
- ee
- sih
- LAB
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Polysyllabic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- polGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- sihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LABSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of polysyllabic
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: pol-ih-sih-LAB-ik.
What does polysyllabic mean?
- Having more than one syllable; having multiple or many syllables.“"Antidisestablishmentarianism" definitely qualifies as a polysyllabic word.”
- Characterized by or consisting of words having numerous syllables.“I have a particularly off-putting predilection for the utilization of ponderously polysyllabic linguistic constructions.”
- A word having more than one syllable
Where does polysyllabic come from?
From poly- + syllabic.
Words that rhyme with polysyllabic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of polysyllabic.
Questions about saying polysyllabic
How do you pronounce polysyllabic?
Say pol-ee-sih-LAB-ik. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɑlisɪˈlæbɪk/. In British English it is /ˌpɒlɪsɪˈlæbɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in polysyllabic?
Polysyllabic has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (LAB). Broken into parts: pol · ee · sih · LAB · ik.
Is polysyllabic 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 /ˌpɒlɪsɪˈlæbɪk/ (pol-ih-sih-LAB-ik).