Bisyllabic

/ˌbaɪsɪˈlæbɪk/ adjective

Definition

Consisting of exactly two syllables; having a word or utterance made up of two distinct sound units.

Etymology

From Latin bi- (two) + Greek syllabē (syllable, from syn- 'together' + lambein 'to take'). Used in linguistics and phonology since the 19th century.

Kelly Says

Words like 'ba-by' and 'pen-cil' are bisyllabic, but here's the weird part—different English dialects count syllables differently, so 'fire' might be one syllable or two depending on where you're from, making syllable counting surprisingly controversial.

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