The word detonate is divided into 4 syllables: de·to·na·te. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The phonetic transcription of detonate:
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First attested in 1729; either borrowed from French détoner or directly from Latin dētonātus, perfect passive participle of dētonō (“to thunder down (strongly); (figuratively, of a person) to thunder, speak threateningly, to rage; to stop thundering”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dē- (“off, from”) + tonō (“to thunder”)). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tenh₂-. The current interlingual meaning seems to be a new formation in postclassical times (to thunde...
Understanding how to break down detonate into syllables helps with:
Compare detonate with related words to understand syllable patterns:
| Word | Syllables | Division |
|---|---|---|
| detonate | 4 | de·to·na·te |
| donate | 3 | do-na-te |
| detainment | 3 | de-tain-ment |
| dainty | 2 | dain-ty |
| dammit | 2 | dam-mit |
Explore syllable divisions of words related to detonate:
deter, detox, detach, detail, detain, detect, detest, detour.
detonate has 4 syllables: de·to·na·te. The word is divided into 4 distinct sound units that make up the complete pronunciation.
The stress is on the first syllable: de. This means you emphasize the "de" part when pronouncing detonate.
detonate is pronounced as /ˈdɛtəneɪt/ (IPA notation). The syllables are divided as: de·to·na·te.
Breaking detonate into syllables helps with spelling: de·to·na·te. By pronouncing each syllable separately, you can identify the letters more easily and avoid common spelling mistakes.
Learning syllable division helps with correct pronunciation, improved spelling, better reading fluency, and is useful for poetry and lyric writing where syllable counting matters. It's especially helpful for language learners.