How to pronounce polysynthetic
Say it like pol-ee-sin-THET-ik. Polysynthetic has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (THET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce polysynthetic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pol
- ee
- sin
- THET
- ik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Polysynthetic 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.
- sinKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- THETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of polysynthetic
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: pol-ee-sin-THET-ik.
What does polysynthetic mean?
- Characterized by a prevalence of relatively long words containing a large number of morphemes. Typically, the morphemes are bound.
- Having layers of twin crystals
Where does polysynthetic come from?
From poly- + synthetic.
Words that rhyme with polysynthetic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of polysynthetic.
Questions about saying polysynthetic
How do you pronounce polysynthetic?
Say pol-ee-sin-THET-ik. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɑlisɪnˈθɛtɪk/. In British English it is /ˌpɒlisɪnˈθɛtɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in polysynthetic?
Polysynthetic has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (THET). Broken into parts: pol · ee · sin · THET · ik.
Is polysynthetic 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 /ˌpɒlisɪnˈθɛtɪk/ (pol-ee-sin-THET-ik).