extraterrestrials
Syllables
ex-tra-ter-res-tri-als
Pronunciation
/ˌɛkstrəˈtɛrɪstriəlz/
Stress
000100
Morphemes
extra- + terr- + -estrial
The word 'extraterrestrials' is divided into six syllables: ex-tra-ter-res-tri-als. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('res'). It's morphologically complex, comprising a Latin-derived prefix, root, and suffix, and an English plural marker. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel and consonant sounds.
Definitions
- 1
Beings from a planet other than Earth.
“Scientists are searching for evidence of extraterrestrials.”
“The movie featured a terrifying encounter with extraterrestrials.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('res'). The first, second, third, fifth and sixth syllables are unstressed.
Syllables
ex — Open syllable, initial syllable.. tra — Open syllable, vowel following consonant cluster.. ter — Closed syllable, ends with consonant 'r'.. res — Closed syllable, ends with consonant 's'.. tri — Closed syllable, ends with consonant 'r'.. als — Closed syllable, ends with consonant 'z'.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Open Syllable Rule
Syllables generally end with a vowel sound. Applied to 'ex', 'tra'.
Closed Syllable Rule
Syllables end with a consonant sound. Applied to 'ter', 'res', 'tri', 'als'.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Consonant clusters are maintained within syllables where possible. Applied to 'tr' and 'str'.
- Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a common feature of English phonology.
- Regional variations in pronunciation (e.g., /ə/ instead of /ɛ/ in the first syllable) may occur.
Nearby Words
17 wordsTrending in English (GB)
Terms getting hyphenated by users right now.