greatgrandmother
The word 'great-grandmother' is a four-syllable compound noun with primary stress on 'moth' and secondary stress on 'great'. Syllabification follows standard US English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and compound word structure. It is morphologically composed of the prefix 'great-', the roots 'grand' and 'moth', and the suffix '-er'.
Definitions
- 1
The mother of one's grandparent.
“My great-grandmother immigrated from Italy.”
“She inherited her great-grandmother's antique jewelry.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('moth'), with secondary stress on the first syllable ('great').
Syllables
great — Open syllable, secondary stress.. grand — Open syllable, secondary stress.. moth — Closed syllable, primary stress.. er — Weak syllable, unstressed.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC) Rule
Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant cluster.
Open Syllable Rule
Syllables ending in a vowel sound are considered open syllables.
Closed Syllable Rule
Syllables ending in a consonant sound are considered closed syllables.
Compound Word Rule
Compound words are divided between the constituent parts.
- The hyphenated structure is a morphological feature, not a syllabic one.
- Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may exist.
- Reduction of the final 'er' syllable is common in casual speech.
Nearby Words
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