Tri- is a bound morpheme used as a prefix meaning three. In linguistic and mathematical contexts, it signals a triple or triadic relation, and it often combines with nouns, adjectives, or verbs to form terms like trillion, triad, or triage. As a prefix, it does not stand alone as a word but modifies the base it attaches to. It is pronounced with a short, light initial /t/ followed by a clear /r/ and a high front vowel, blending in fluent word-initial contexts.
Full pronunciation guide
