pentachlorophenol
Syllables
pen-ta-chlor-o-phen-ol
Pronunciation
/ˌpɛntəˌklɔːroʊˈfɛnəl/
Stress
000010
Morphemes
penta- + chlorophenol + -ol
Pentachlorophenol is a six-syllable noun with primary stress on 'phen'. Syllabification follows standard CV/VC rules, dividing the word into pen-ta-chlor-o-phen-ol. It's a compound word with Greek and Latin roots, functioning as a chemical name.
Definitions
- 1
A synthetic organochlorine compound used as a pesticide, herbicide, and wood preservative.
“Pentachlorophenol was once widely used to treat lumber, but its use has been restricted due to environmental concerns.”
syn:PCP
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the second-to-last syllable ('phen'). The first and third syllables have secondary stress.
Syllables
pen — Open syllable, unstressed.. ta — Open syllable, unstressed.. chlor — Closed syllable, unstressed.. o — Open syllable, unstressed.. phen — Closed syllable, stressed.. ol — Open syllable, unstressed.
Word Parts
Consonant-Vowel (CV)
Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds, with consonants preceding them forming the onset.
Vowel-Consonant (VC)
When a vowel is followed by a consonant within a word, a syllable break often occurs.
Avoidance of Complex Onsets/Codas
English tends to avoid overly complex syllable structures, favoring simpler CV patterns.
- The length of the word and the 'chlor' cluster require careful consideration, but the CV/VC rule consistently applies.
- Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly affect syllable emphasis, but not the core division.
Nearby Words
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