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What is the shortest two-syllable word you can think of used in English? So far, I have only come up with one word with two letters. The word made its way into English from Greek through Latin, is a proper noun, and is used, I’m sure, in many other languages. Can you think more than one?


What is the longest one-syllable word you can think of used in English? I have come up with one that has seven letters, but I’m sure there are other, longer, one-syllable words. Can you think of any?



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The word a as pronounced by a North Carolinian with true North Carolinian accent. Now, some would call that 'a' a diphthong, but I hear two most decidedly distinct syllables, especially when you hear bonafide two-syllable words with the final one clipped off altogether.

aa, a type of lava, is pronounced 'ah ah', according to our tsuwm, so that's a two-syllable word of two letters.

Don't have any time now to consider long one-syllable words, but 'straight' comes to mind right away. And that's 8 letters.

Have fun with this thread!


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Strengths has nine letters.


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Ah, and straights (nominative) has 9, also. But I can't raise ya' one, Faldage!


#134151 10/18/04 12:49 AM
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It raises the question: Can inflected forms be considered different words?


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The ai is a three toed sloth. The two toed sloth, as a matter of interest, is the unau.


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AHD calls ai a one-syllable word.


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AHD calls ai a one-syllable word.

That's interesting. I'd never thought of pronouncing it that way.


#134155 10/20/04 12:00 PM
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Dgeigh,

Please settle a bet. How do you pronounce your screen name? I say Dee-Gayg and Faldage says Jay.


#134156 10/20/04 12:33 PM
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how about Jeff?



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