saintjohn'swort
Syllables
saint-john's-wort
Pronunciation
/ˌseɪnt ˈdʒɒnz wɜːrt/
Stress
100
Morphemes
saint- + wort + john's
Saint-john's-wort is a compound noun with three syllables: saint, john's, and wort. The primary stress falls on 'saint'. The word's morphemes derive from Latin, Hebrew, and Old English. Syllabification follows standard English vowel and consonant rules, with consideration for the hyphenated structure and possessive marker.
Definitions
- 1
A flowering plant (Hypericum perforatum) traditionally used as a herbal remedy for depression and anxiety.
“She started taking Saint-john's-wort to help with her seasonal affective disorder.”
“The herbalist recommended Saint-john's-wort as a natural antidepressant.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the first syllable, 'saint'.
Syllables
saint — Monosyllabic, open syllable, primary stress.. john's — Monosyllabic, closed syllable.. wort — Monosyllabic, closed syllable.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Vowel Rule
Every syllable must contain a vowel sound.
Open Syllable Rule
Syllables ending in a vowel sound are open.
Closed Syllable Rule
Syllables ending in a consonant sound are closed.
Compound Word Rule
Compound words are divided between the constituent words.
Possessive Rule
Possessive markers ('s) are often treated as separate syllables, but can be combined with the preceding word.
- The hyphenated structure requires careful consideration.
- Regional variations in pronunciation of 'wort' (/ɜː/ vs. /ɔː/) could slightly alter the phonetic transcription.
- The possessive 's' could be argued to form a separate syllable in some analyses, but it's more common to combine it with 'john'.
Nearby Words
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