monosyllable: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, technical
Quick answer
What does “monosyllable” mean?
A word consisting of a single syllable.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A word consisting of a single syllable.
A brief, abrupt, or curt utterance, often implying terseness or reluctance to speak.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of brevity or terseness.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, primarily found in academic/linguistic contexts or literary descriptions of speech.
Grammar
How to Use “monosyllable” in a Sentence
answer with a ~reply in ~sutter a ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “monosyllable” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The child gave a monosyllabic reply.
- Old English had many monosyllabic words.
American English
- He was known for his monosyllabic answers.
- The poet used a monosyllabic line for effect.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in communication training about clarity or feedback styles.
Academic
Common in linguistics and phonology textbooks and papers.
Everyday
Very rare. Used for humorous or descriptive effect about someone's short answers.
Technical
Standard term in phonology, morphology, and language acquisition studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “monosyllable”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “monosyllable”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “monosyllable”
- Misspelling as 'monosyllabic' (which is the adjective).
- Using it to describe a short sentence instead of a single word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a five-syllable word: mon-o-syl-la-ble.
'Monosyllable' is a noun referring to the word itself. 'Monosyllabic' is an adjective describing something (e.g., a word, a reply) as having one syllable.
They are far more fundamental and common in languages like Mandarin Chinese, where most morphemes are monosyllabic. English has a mix of mono- and polysyllabic words.
In English, no, because syllable count is not directly tied to letter count. A monosyllable can have many letters (e.g., 'strengths' has 9 letters but is one syllable).
A word consisting of a single syllable.
Monosyllable is usually formal, technical in register.
Monosyllable: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒn.əˌsɪl.ə.bəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑː.nəˌsɪl.ə.bəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to speak in monosyllables (to be terse or uncommunicative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MONO means one (like monorail), SYLLABLE is a unit of sound. A MONOSYLLABLE is a one-sound-unit word.
Conceptual Metaphor
BREVITY IS A SINGLE UNIT / COMMUNICATION IS BUILDING BLOCKS (where a monosyllable is the smallest block).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'monosyllable' most precisely and frequently used?