4 syllables: Di, plo, do, cus. Stress on do.
dip-luh-DOH-kuhs
/ˌdɪpləˈdoʊkəs/
Diplodocus is pronounced dip-luh-DOH-kuhs (/ˌdɪpləˈdoʊkəs/). It has four syllables (Di-plo-do-cus), with the stress on "do". Diplodocus is a genus of large, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs. The name combines Greek roots meaning “double” (diplo) and “beam” or “log” (dokos), referring to its distinctive double-beamed chevron bones. It is commonly used to describe the dinosaur itself as a species epithet and in paleontological contexts.
nounDiplodocus is a genus of large, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs. The name combines Greek roots meaning “double” (diplo) and “beam” or “log” (dokos), referring to its distinctive double-beamed chevron bones. It is commonly used to describe the dinosaur itself as a species epithet and in paleontological contexts.
How to Pronounce Diplodocus
"The Diplodocus skeleton on display drew crowds at the museum."
"Researchers identified a new Diplodocus specimen from the Jurassic formations."
"Children learned that Diplodocus is one of the longest land animals that ever lived."
Pronounce as /ˌdɪpləˈdoʊkəs/ or /ˌdɪpləˈdɒkəs/ depending on accent. Emphasize the second syllable with a clear dash: dip-LOH-duh-kuss. Start with /dɪ/ (short i), move to /plə/ (schwa + l), then /ˈdoʊ/ or /ˈdoʊ/ for DO, and finish with /kəs/. Keep the mouth open in the /oʊ/ vowel and finish with a light /s/. In careful speech, you may hear /ˌdɪp.ləˈdɒk.əs/ for some UK speakers; both forms are understood in academic use. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Oxford pronunciation entries or Forvo samples for natural variance.
Common errors: placing stress on the first syllable (DIP-loh-doh-kus) instead of the second (dip-LAH-doh-kus); mispronouncing the -doc- as /dɒk/ with a short o rather than the longer /doʊ/ or /doʊ/; and truncating the final -us to /-us/ as in ‘duke-us’ instead of /-kəs/. Correct these by using a clear secondary stress on the third syllable, ensure the /doʊ/ or /doʊ/ vowel is long, and end with a soft /əs/ or /ks/ depending on speaker. Visual cue: think ‘dip-luh-DOH-kuss’ with a relaxed jaw before the final /kəs/.” ,
In US English, the primary stress lands on the third syllable: /ˌdɪpləˈdoʊkəs/. UK speakers often place tight stress on the same syllable but may reduce the second syllable slightly and use a rounded /ɒ/ in the /kəs/ ending: /ˌdɪpləˈdɒkəs/. Australian speakers generally align with US pronunciation but may exhibit broader vowels in /ɪ/ and /ə/; rhoticity is typical, so /r/ is not involved here. Pay attention to a clear /oʊ/ or /oʊ/ in the -do- portion and a light, voiceless /s/ at the end. IPA references: US /ˌdɪpləˈdoʊkəs/, UK /ˌdɪpləˈdɒkəs/, AU /ˌdɪpləˈdoʊkəs/.
Two main challenges: a multi-syllable, three-consonant cluster in the middle (pl- and -dok- sequences) and the long vowel in the DO portion. The stress pattern is not on the first syllable, which can surprise speakers. Additionally, the final -cus ending can be mispronounced as /-kəs/ with a hard /s/ or as /-kus/. Practice by isolating the middle cluster and focusing on a prolonged /oʊ/ in DO. Use slow repetition to ingrain the sequence: dip-luh-DOH-kuss.
Diplodocus has no silent letters in standard pronunciation; every letter contributes to the phonetic sequence. The challenging aspect is the vowel timing and the two-Note stress pattern: the secondary stress on the prefix diplo- and the primary stress on -doc- or -docus depending on analysis. Ensure you vocalize the /pl/ blend clearly, avoid a silent /l/ or muted /oʊ/ in the DO syllable, and end with a crisp /s/ rather than a voiced /z/ in careful speech.
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Diplodocus derives from the Greek diploos (double) and dokos (beam, pole, tree trunk). The genus was named by paleontologists John H. Ostrom and Elmer S. Riggs in 1878, building on the prehistoric tradition of combining Greek roots to describe distinctive features. The term implies the animal’s iconic bifurcated chevron bones and the long, slender vertebral columns characteristic of diplodocids. Early paleontological descriptions highlighted its enormous size and nostril arrangements, while subsequent discoveries refined the understanding of its skeletal proportions. The name has remained stable as a scientific designation for the long-necked, whip-tailed sauropod lineage. First described during the late 19th century, Diplodocus has since become a common reference in both scientific literature and museum exhibitions, often cited as a quintessential example of Mesozoic megafauna.
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Words that rhyme with "Diplodocus"
-cus sounds
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