circumlocutional
Syllables
cir-cum-lo-cu-tion-al
Pronunciation
/ˌsɜːkəmloʊˈkjuːʃənəl/
Stress
000100
Morphemes
circum- + locut- + -al
The word 'circumlocutional' is divided into six syllables: cir-cum-lo-cu-tion-al. It features a prefix 'circum-', a root 'locut-', and suffixes '-ion' and '-al'. Primary stress falls on the third syllable. Syllable division follows the Maximal Onset Principle and avoids illegal consonant clusters.
Definitions
- 1
Using or characterized by indirect language intended to avoid clarity or directness.
“His circumlocutional answers made it difficult to understand his true position.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the third syllable: *kjuː*.
Syllables
cir- — Open syllable. Initial consonant cluster followed by a vowel.. cum- — Closed syllable. Consonant followed by a vowel.. lo- — Open syllable. Consonant followed by a diphthong.. cu- — Closed syllable. Consonant cluster followed by a long vowel. Primary stress applied here.. tion- — Closed syllable. Consonant cluster followed by a schwa.. al — Closed syllable. Consonant followed by a schwa.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Maximal Onset Principle
Applied where possible, constrained by permissible English onsets.
Avoidance of Illegal Consonant Clusters
Syllable boundaries established to avoid illegal consonant clusters.
Vowel Hiatus Avoidance
Consonants assigned to the following syllable when it created a legal onset.
- The /ʃ/ sound in "tion" can sometimes be realized as /tʃ/ in certain regional accents.
- Vowel quality in unstressed syllables can vary slightly depending on the speaker.
Nearby Words
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