palaeoanthropology
Syllables
pa-lae-o-an-thro-po-lo-gy
Pronunciation
/ˌpæliːoʊænθrɒpɒlədʒi/
Stress
00001001
Morphemes
palaeo- + anthrop- + -ology
Palaeoanthropology is divided into eight syllables: pa-lae-o-an-thro-po-lo-gy. The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable. The word is morphologically complex, consisting of a Greek-derived prefix, root, and suffix. Syllabification follows the vowel nucleus rule.
Definitions
- 1
The study of the origins and development of humankind, especially relating to the fossil record.
“Her research focuses on palaeoanthropology and the origins of modern humans.”
“The museum has a fascinating exhibit on palaeoanthropology.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable (/pɒ/). The stress pattern is ˌpæliːoʊænθrɒˈpɒlədʒi.
Syllables
pa — Open syllable, vowel nucleus.. lae — Open syllable, diphthong nucleus.. o — Open syllable, vowel nucleus.. an — Open syllable, vowel nucleus.. thro — Open syllable, vowel nucleus.. po — Closed syllable, vowel nucleus followed by consonant.. lo — Open syllable, vowel nucleus.. gy — Closed syllable, vowel nucleus followed by consonant.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Vowel Nucleus
Every syllable must have a vowel sound as its nucleus. Consonants are assigned to the syllable where the following vowel occurs.
- The 'ae' digraph is pronounced as a long /eɪ/ diphthong.
- The 'thro' cluster is a common English sequence.
- The length of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes create a complex structure.
Nearby Words
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