photoelectricity
Syllables
pho-to-e-lec-tri-ci-ty
Pronunciation
/ˌfoʊtoʊˌɪlɛktrɪˈsɪti/
Stress
0010001
Morphemes
photo- + electric- + -ity
The word 'photoelectricity' is a compound noun derived from Greek and Latin roots. It is divided into seven syllables: pho-to-e-lec-tri-ci-ty, with primary stress on the third-to-last syllable. Syllabification follows standard English rules of vowel-following consonants and consonant clusters.
Definitions
- 1
The emission of electrons when light hits a material.
“The experiment demonstrated the principles of photoelectricity.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the third-to-last syllable ('ci'). The first and fourth syllables have secondary stress.
Syllables
pho — Open syllable, vowel sound. to — Open syllable, diphthong. e — Open syllable, short vowel. lec — Closed syllable, short vowel. tri — Closed syllable, short vowel. ci — Open syllable, short vowel. ty — Open syllable, short vowel
Word Parts
Similar Words
Vowel-Following Consonant Rule
Syllables are often divided after a vowel, especially if followed by a consonant.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Consonant clusters (two or more consonants together) are generally kept within the same syllable.
Open/Closed Syllable Rule
Syllables ending in vowels are open; those ending in consonants are closed.
- The 'ct' cluster requires careful application of the consonant cluster rule.
- The pronunciation of 'ci' can vary, but is /sɪ/ in this case.
Nearby Words
17 wordsTrending in English (US)
Terms getting hyphenated by users right now.