greatgrandfather
The word 'great-grandfather' is a compound noun syllabified as great-grand-fa-ther, with primary stress on 'fa'. It comprises the prefix 'great-', the root 'grand-', and the root 'father'. Syllable division follows vowel-consonant and consonant cluster rules, typical of English (GB).
Definitions
- 1
The father of one's grandparent.
“My great-grandfather emigrated from Ireland.”
“She inherited a watch from her great-grandfather.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('fa'). The first and third syllables are unstressed, while the second syllable receives secondary stress.
Syllables
great — Open syllable, diphthong.. grand — Closed syllable, nasal consonant.. fa — Open syllable, long vowel.. ther — Closed syllable, weak vowel.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Vowel-Consonant Division
Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.
Consonant Cluster Division
Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable.
Compound Word Division
Compound words are divided based on constituent morphemes.
- Potential vowel reduction in 'great' in rapid speech.
- Regional variations in vowel pronunciation do not affect syllabic structure.
Nearby Words
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