Pronunciation: [pˌɒlɪsˈɪləbə͡lz] (IPA) 
The word "polysyllables" is spelled with a long "o" sound followed by the letters "ly," which represent a syllabic "l" sound. The stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable, so the "a" in the third syllable is pronounced with a short "uh" sound. The final syllable is pronounced with the "s" sound followed by the schwa sound "uh" and a voiced "z" sound. The IPA phonetic transcription for "polysyllables" is /ˌpɒliˈsɪləbz/.
Polysyllables are words that consist of more than one syllable. Syllables are the individual units of sound that make up a word, and they are formed by a combination of vowels and consonants. Each syllable typically contains one vowel sound and may also contain one or more consonant sounds.
The term "polysyllable" is derived from the Greek words "poly" meaning "many" and "syllabos" meaning "a syllable." Therefore, polysyllables refer to words with more than one syllable.
The number of syllables in a word is determined by dividing it into its constituent sounds, and identifying each separate sound as a syllable. For example, the word "polysyllable" is broken down into three syllables: "pol-y-syl-la-ble." Each syllable is formed by combining a set of sounds, with the main emphasis typically placed on one of them.
Polysyllables can vary in length, complexity, and pronunciation. English, for instance, contains numerous polysyllabic words, such as "opportunity," "extraordinary," and "unbelievable." These longer words often provide more detailed or specific meanings compared to their single-syllable counterparts.
Understanding syllable division and recognizing polysyllables is important for various reasons, including proper pronunciation, reading comprehension, and writing accuracy. Having knowledge of polysyllables aids in the process of correctly enunciating and articulating words, and can contribute to effective communication and language proficiency.
The word "polysyllables" is formed by combining the prefix "poly-" meaning "many" and the noun "syllable". The prefix "poly-" is derived from the Greek word "polus" meaning "much" or "many". The word "syllable" has Latin origins, coming from the Latin "syllaba" which itself is derived from the Greek "syllabē" meaning "combination" or "utterance". Therefore, "polysyllables" literally means "many syllables".
