3 syllables: Scin, ti, lla. Stress on ti.
sin-TIL-uh
/sɪˈntɪlə/
Scintilla is pronounced sin-TIL-uh (/sɪˈntɪlə/). It has three syllables (Scin-ti-lla), with the stress on "ti". Scintilla is a noun meaning a tiny trace or spark, especially one that ignites a larger idea, event, or feeling. It denotes a very small amount of something tangible or a detectable trace of a quality or phenomenon. The term is often used in literary or formal contexts to describe a subtle hint or glimmer of something more substantial.
nounScintilla is a noun meaning a tiny trace or spark, especially one that ignites a larger idea, event, or feeling. It denotes a very small amount of something tangible or a detectable trace of a quality or phenomenon. The term is often used in literary or formal contexts to describe a subtle hint or glimmer of something more substantial.
"The scientist detected a scintilla of radioactive material in the sample."
"Her speech stirred a scintilla of hope in the audience."
"There wasn’t a scintilla of truth in his claims, only rumors."
Pronounce it as /ˈsɪn.tɪ.lə/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: SIN-ti-luh. The middle vowel is a short /ɪ/ as in 'sit', the /t/ is a crisp alveolar stop, and the final /lə/ is a schwa plus l as in 'little' without extra syllables. If you’re listening, focus on making the first syllable succinct and dropping any extra vowel before the final -la. Audio reference: You can compare with dictionaries or pronunciation apps to hear the /ˈsɪn.tɪ.lə/ rhythm.
Common errors include misplacing stress (sinking into the second syllable) and mispronouncing the final unstressed vowel as a full syllable. Another mistake is turning the final /lə/ into /loʊ/ or /ləː/ with a long vowel. Correction: keep the final schwa-like /ə/ and light /l/ into a quick, soft ending: /ˈsɪn.tɪ.lə/. Practice by isolating the final segment: /lɚ/ or /lə/ depending on your accent, but avoid extra vowels. Use minimal pairs to train: sin-til-la vs sin-tay-la is incorrect.
In US, UK, and AU accents, the pattern /ˈsɪn.tɪ.lə/ remains, with minor variations in vowel quality. US speakers may have a slightly tighter /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a shorter /ə/ at the end. UK and AU may produce a marginally higher /ɪ/ in the first vowel and a slightly more rounded /ə/ in the final syllable. Rhoticity does not affect the ending here; the /ɜː/ vs /ə/ distinction is usually minimal in non-stressed syllables. The main variance is vowel quality, not rhythm or stress.
The difficulty lies in the precise distribution of short vowels and a clipped final syllable. The final /lə/ must be a light, unstressed schwa plus /l/ rather than a fully enunciated /ləː/. The first two vowels are short and distinct: /ɪ/ in the second syllable should not reduce to a lax vowel. The overall rhythm is brisk: a three-syllable word with strong initial stress. Practicing with slow-didelity phoneme isolation helps you carve out a natural feel.
A unique aspect is maintaining a clean, unstressed final schwa and not coalescing the /n/ and /t/ into a single, blurred sound. The 'tt' can be a crisp /t/ followed by /ɪ/ then a soft /lə/ sequence; avoid turning it into /ˈsɪntəlɑː/ or /ˈsɪntɪlɒ/. Emphasize clear boundaries: /ˈsɪn/ + /tɪ/ + /lə/. This helps prevent common mispronunciations where the middle or final vowels take on extra length.
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Scintilla comes from the Latin scintilla, meaning a small spark or spark of light. The word in Latin is diminutive of scintere, meaning to glitter or sparkle. The earliest English usage dates to the 17th century, originally in scientific or literary contexts to describe a tiny spark or speck. Its metaphorical extension to a trace or hint reflects the idea of something momentary and delicate, akin to a flicker of light. Over time, scintilla broadened in formal prose to signify a small, but perceivable, amount of something more substantial—an almost imperceptible sign that hints at a larger phenomenon. The word retains a somewhat elevated, almost poetic, tone in modern usage and is less common in everyday speech, often reserved for precise or evocative descriptions. The etymology underscores its core image: a diminutive spark that signals the presence or possibility of something greater to come.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Scintilla" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Scintilla"
-nal sounds
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