commanderinchief
The word 'commander-in-chief' is divided into five syllables: com-man-der-in-chief. The primary stress is on the second syllable of 'commander'. Syllabification follows the Maximal Onset Principle and standard English phonetic rules, with consideration for the compound nature of the phrase.
Definitions
- 1
The supreme commander of armed forces.
“The president is the commander-in-chief of the army.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the second syllable of 'commander' (/ˈmændər/).
Syllables
com — Open syllable. Vowel followed by consonant.. man — Closed syllable. Vowel followed by consonant cluster.. der — Closed syllable. Vowel followed by consonant.. in — Closed syllable. Vowel followed by nasal consonant.. chief — Closed syllable. Diphthong followed by consonant.
Similar Words
Open Syllable Rule
A syllable ending in a vowel is considered open.
Closed Syllable Rule
A syllable ending in a consonant is considered closed.
Maximal Onset Principle
Maximize the number of consonants in the onset of a syllable, provided the resulting onset is legal in English.
Compound/Phrase Boundary Rule
Allow syllable boundaries at compound/phrase joins when phonotactically appropriate.
- The compound nature of the phrase introduces a potential syllable break between 'in' and 'chief', but established usage favors treating 'in chief' as a unit.
Nearby Words
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