midwife

How to Split "midwife" into Syllables

The word midwife is divided into 3 syllables: mid·wi·fe. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.

📝 Syllable Breakdown

• mid — 1st syllable
• wi — 2nd syllable
• fe — 3rd syllable

🔊 Pronunciation Guide

The phonetic transcription of midwife:

• IPA: /ˈmɪd.waɪf/

📖 Definitions

1. The term is applicable to both males and females. Despite this, the term midhusband is also sometimes used (usually in nonserious contexts).
2. midwife (third-person singular simple present midwifes, present participle midwifing, simple past and past participle midwifed)

📚 Word Origin & History

From Middle English midwif, corresponding to mid (“with”) + wif (“woman, wife, female”). It appears not to be entirely clear whether the original understanding was “with-woman” in the sense of “attending/assisting woman”, or “they who are with the woman” (namely the mother).

✓ Why Learn Syllable Division?

Understanding how to break down midwife into syllables helps with:

• Correct pronunciation — Knowing syllable structure ensures accurate speech
• Improved spelling — Breaking words into chunks makes them easier to remember and write
• Reading fluency — Recognizing syllable patterns speeds up reading comprehension
• Poetry and lyrics — Syllable counting is essential for meter and rhythm
• Language learning — Non-native speakers benefit from syllable awareness

📊 Similar Words Comparison

Compare midwife with related words to understand syllable patterns:

Word	Syllables	Division
midwife	3	mid·wi·fe
motive	3	mo-ti-ve
mutative	4	mu-ta-ti-ve
maintop	2	main-top
modify	3	mo-di-fy

🔗 Related Words

Explore syllable divisions of words related to midwife:

mid, midi, Midas, middy, midge, midst, midair, midday.