antepenult: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “antepenult” mean?
The third syllable from the end of a word.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The third syllable from the end of a word.
In prosody and linguistics, refers specifically to the syllable preceding the penult, which itself precedes the final syllable. It is a term used primarily in discussions of word stress, poetic meter, and syllable counting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences; the term is technical and consistent across dialects.
Connotations
Connotes specialized knowledge in linguistics or poetry.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general usage, but stable within its technical domain.
Grammar
How to Use “antepenult” in a Sentence
The antepenult is [adjective].The word has stress on the antepenult.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “antepenult” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The antepenult stress pattern is common in English polysyllables.
American English
- An antepenult rule governs stress assignment in that language.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in linguistics, classical studies, and poetry analysis. Example: 'The stress rule applies only if the antepenult is light.'
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Core term in phonology for describing stress patterns and syllabic structure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “antepenult”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “antepenult”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “antepenult”
- Mispronouncing it as /æntiˈpɛnʌlt/ (stress on 'pen').
- Confusing it with 'penult'.
- Using it in non-technical contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialized technical term used almost exclusively in linguistics, poetry, and language teaching.
In its standard usage, no. It is a term of prosody and phonology specifically for syllable position. By strict analogy, it could be extended to items in any sequence (e.g., the antepenult item in a list), but this is very rare.
The penult (second-to-last), and then the ultima (the last).
'American' (stress on 'me') and 'photography' (stress on 'tog') are classic examples where the primary stress falls on the antepenult.
The third syllable from the end of a word.
Antepenult is usually technical / academic in register.
Antepenult: in British English it is pronounced /ˌantɪpɪˈnʌlt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.t̬i.pɪˈnʌlt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'ANTE' (before) + 'PENULT' (the second-to-last). So it's the one BEFORE the second-to-last. Or: The ULTimate is last, the PENULTimate is *almost* last, the ANTEPENULTimate is *even before* almost last.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION AS A SEQUENCE: Conceptualized as a fixed point in a linear sequence (beginning... antepenult, penult, ult).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'antepenult' refer to?