The word deleterious is divided into 4 syllables: de·le·ter·ious. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The phonetic transcription of deleterious:
Note: Audio requires JavaScript enabled
Adapted borrowing (1640s; 1582 as deletorious) of New Latin dēlētērius, dēlētōrius + -ous, from Ancient Greek δηλητήριος (dēlētḗrios, “noxious, deleterious”), from δηλητήρ (dēlētḗr, “a destroyer”), from δηλέομαι (dēléomai, “I hurt, damage, spoil, waste”). Not related to delete. Doublet of deletery.
Understanding how to break down deleterious into syllables helps with:
Explore syllable divisions of words related to deleterious:
deleterious has 4 syllables: de·le·ter·ious. 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 deleterious.
deleterious is pronounced as /ˌdɛl.ɪˈtɪə̯.ɹi.əs/ (IPA notation). The syllables are divided as: de·le·ter·ious.
Breaking deleterious into syllables helps with spelling: de·le·ter·ious. 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.