How to Pronounce “pterodactyl”
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- American (US)
- /ˌtɛɹ.əˈdæk.təl/
What “pterodactyl” means
noun — A pterosaur of the genus Pterodactylus.
Pronunciation Notes
The p is silent. Greek pt- is reduced to /t/ in English, so “pterodactyl” begins on the t sound.
Where the stress falls. “pterodactyl” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˌtɛɹ.əˈdæk.təl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.
An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌtɛɹ.əˈdæk.təl/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "pterodactyl" mean?
pterodactyl (noun): A pterosaur of the genus Pterodactylus.
What is the IPA transcription of "pterodactyl"?
/ˌtɛɹ.əˈdæk.təl/ in American English.
Which syllable is stressed in "pterodactyl"?
“pterodactyl” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˌtɛɹ.əˈdæk.təl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.
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