The word "Subalternating" is spelled with a prefix "sub-" and a verb "alternating". The prefix "sub-" means "under" or "below", while "alternating" is a present participle of the verb "alternate", meaning "to take turns". Therefore, "Subalternating" means "taking turns in a subordinate position". In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced [sʌbɒltəneɪtɪŋ], with stress on the second syllable "bol". The vowels "o" and "a" are pronounced as in "hot" and "father" respectively.