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Glite Dictionary
🔤 Vowel merging 🥛 Liquid separation
synaeresis

synaeresis

9.9
Pronouncing two vowels next to each other in a word as one vowel sound
  • noun
  • /sɪˈnɛrɪsɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sinaeresis
  • In linguistics, synaeresis often leads to the creation of diphthongs in everyday speech.

Examples

  • The poet uses synaeresis to compress the syllables and fit the poetic meter.

  • Shakespeare’s verse contains several instances of synaeresis, especially in rapid dialogue.

  • The term synaeresis describes how two vowels can merge.

  • In linguistics, synaeresis is an important concept.

  • In linguistics, synaeresis occurs when two vowels within a word are pronounced together as a single syllable.

  • The technique of synaeresis helps poets create a smoother flow in their verses.

  • An example of synaeresis can be heard in the way certain words are spoken in fast conversation.

Synonyms

fusion
vssynaeresis
  • Specialized
1 4.9

Nearby sounds in speech join to make one sound

refers specifically to adjacent vowels within a word forming one syllable
syneresis
vssynaeresis
  • Specialized
9.9

Two vowel sounds in a word join to make one syllable, for example the word poet said quickly

has identical meaning but is a variant spelling used elsewhere

Surface Forms

synaeresis singular
synaereses plural

Morphology

synaeresis = aeresis (opaque) = syna + aeresis

The term is a learned technical formation from Greek combining elements; an average B1 learner cannot derive the phonetic meaning from 'syna-' + 'aeresis'.

Etymology

The word synaeresis comes from Greek parts syn- meaning 'together' (as in synchronize) and aeresis meaning 'taking'. So it is like two vowel sounds being 'taken together' into one sound, which is why synaeresis describes two adjacent vowels pronounced as a single syllable.