WordGarden.iomonosyllabic
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /mˌɒnəʊsɪlˈæbɪk/
US
Meanings
Adjective
consisting of one syllable
brief and not talkative in speech
Beyond the definition
Imagine a poet who loves the snap of short words - words like "cat," "run," or "bright." That poet might deliberately choose mostly monosyllabic words. "Mono" means one, and a syllable is a beat or unit of sound in a word. So, monosyllabic simply means having only one syllable.
While this is not always intentional, some dialects or ways of speaking lean toward this kind of language - think of the terse, direct way some characters in Westerns talk. It is often used to create a feeling of simplicity, strength, or even bluntness. A writer might describe someone's speech as monosyllabic if they are quiet and do not say much. You would not usually use it for a long, flowing speech full of complex ideas.
The word monosyllabic describes something that contains only one syllable - a single beat or unit of pronunciation. It is built from parts that mean "one" and "syllable." While it sounds technical, you meet this idea all the time.
Most commonly, monosyllabic is used to describe words themselves: "go," "blue," and "fast" are all monosyllabic. But it can also describe speech or writing styles. If someone speaks in a monosyllabic way, they use mostly one-syllable words and tend to give brief answers. This might suggest they are reserved, quiet, or even a little rough in manner.
Historically, poets and writers have sometimes deliberately used monosyllabic language for style - to create a sense of starkness, directness, or simplicity. Think of the powerful, clipped dialogue often found in dramatic poetry or detective novels. Ernest Hemingway, for example, is often linked with short, simple sentences and many one-syllable words.
However, monosyllabic is not necessarily good or bad. It simply describes the structure of language. A child learning to speak often starts with one-syllable words before moving on to longer ones. So whether you are analyzing poetry, describing someone's speech pattern, or just expanding your vocabulary, understanding monosyllabic helps you notice the basic building blocks of language.
Examples
- 1
Names
Her first name is short and monosyllabic, so people usually remember it.
- 2
Short replies
When I asked how the meeting went, he gave a monosyllabic "Fine" and walked off.
- Patternmonosyllabic answer
a very short answer, often just one word
- 3
Social behavior
He's friendly, but he can seem monosyllabic around people he doesn't know well.
- 4
Poetic style
The poet uses plain, mostly monosyllabic language to make the final lines feel more direct.
See also
Similar
- one-syllable
- single-syllable
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- monosyllabic word
- monosyllabic utterance
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- monosyllabicadjective