firstpastthepost
Syllables
first-past-the-post
Pronunciation
/fɜrst ˈpæst ðə poʊst/
Stress
1001
Morphemes
first + post + the
The word 'first-past-the-post' is a four-syllable compound adjective with primary stress on 'first' and secondary stress on 'post'. Syllabification follows standard VC and VCC rules, dividing the word at morpheme boundaries. It describes a voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins.
Definitions
- 1
A voting system in which the candidate who receives the most votes in each constituency wins, regardless of whether they achieve an absolute majority.
“The country uses a first-past-the-post electoral system.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress on 'first' and secondary stress on 'post'. The syllables 'past' and 'the' are unstressed.
Syllables
first — Closed syllable, primary stress.. past — Closed syllable, stressed.. the — Open syllable, unstressed.. post — Closed syllable, secondary stress.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Vowel-Consonant (VC)
Syllables typically end in a vowel sound.
Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC)
When a vowel is followed by two consonants, the syllable break usually occurs between the vowel and the first consonant.
Stress Rule
Primary stress falls on the first syllable unless specific phonological rules dictate otherwise.
- The hyphenated nature of the word is crucial for clarity.
- The compound adjective structure influences the stress pattern.
- Regional variations in pronunciation might affect vowel sounds but not syllable division.
Nearby Words
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