syllable

Meaning

Noun

1. A unit of human speech which often forms words corresponding to one opening of the mouth; a vowel and its surrounding consonants.
2. The written representation of a given pronounced syllable.
3. A small part of a sentence or discourse; anything concise or short; a particle.

Verb

To utter in syllables.

Synonyms

word

single word

byte

pronounce in syllables

speech sound

foot

🦶

phoneme

Translations

Silbe

syllabe

sílaba

sillaba

lettergreep

συλλαβή

sílaba

síl·laba

hece

syllabe

syllaba

sillaba

hece

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsɪl.ə.bəl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: syllable

In summary

From Middle English syllable, sillable, syllabylle, sylabul, from Anglo-Norman sillable, from Old French sillebe, from Latin syllaba, from Ancient Greek συλλαβή (sullabḗ), from συλλαμβάνω (sullambánō, “I gather together”), from συν- (sun-, “together”) + λαμβάνω (lambánō, “I take”).