soo-pur-NOH-vuh
/ˌsupɚˈnoʊvə/
supernova is pronounced soo-pur-NOH-vuh (/ˌsupɚˈnoʊvə/). Supernova refers to a powerful and luminous stellar explosion that briefly outshines its host galaxy. It also denotes a dramatic, explosive rise or transformation in any domain. The term combines Latin roots for “above” and “new,” signaling a bursting forth of new light or energy from a dying star or from an exceptional event.
Supernova refers to a powerful and luminous stellar explosion that briefly outshines its host galaxy. It also denotes a dramatic, explosive rise or transformation in any domain. The term combines Latin roots for “above” and “new,” signaling a bursting forth of new light or energy from a dying star or from an exceptional event.
"Astronomers observed a supernova in a distant galaxy, radiating intense gamma rays."
"The startup’s growth was a supernova, taking the market by surprise."
"Her career became a supernova after the viral video, with opportunities expanding overnight."
Pronounce as /ˌsuː.pərˈnoʊ.və/ (US) or /ˌsuː.pəˈnəʊ.və/ (UK/AU). The primary stress is on the third syllable: no. The syllables are su-per-no-va, with a light 'er' in the second syllable and a stressed 'no' before the final 'va'. Mouth positions: start with a long 'oo' vowel in 'su', relax the jaw for the unstressed 'per', raise the body of the tongue for the 'no' with a clear /oʊ/ diphthong, and finish with a relaxed schwa before /və/. Audio reference: think of listening to native speakers saying “super” + “nova” together smoothly.
Common errors: (1) stress misplacement, saying su-per-NO-va; (2) mispronouncing the second syllable as a strong /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ instead of a reduced /ər/; (3) misproducing the final /ə/ as /ɑː/ or /æ/. Correction tips: keep /ˌsuː.pər/ as a light, unstressed unit, ensure the /noʊ/ has a clear diphthong and avoid flattening to /noː/; finish with a relaxed /və/ rather than /vɑː/. Practice exaggerating the first two syllables then reducing them, aligning with the natural rhythm of a three-beat phrase.
US tends to emphasize /ˌsuː.pərˈnoʊ.və/ with a rhotic /r/ in the second syllable /ˈpər/. UK/AU often reduce post-vocalic r, giving /ˌsuː.pəˈnəʊ.və/ with non-rhotic /ˈnəʊ/. The /oʊ/ in 'no' remains a diphthong in all; the final /ə/ is schwa-like in many speakers. The main differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality: US favors a more pronounced /ər/; UK/AU reduce to /ə/ or /ɪə/ in rapid speech. In careful reading, maintain clear syllable boundaries and a strong /no/ nucleus.
Key challenges include: (1) managing multi-syllabic rhythm with unstressed middle syllable /ˈpər/; (2) producing the /oʊ/ diphthong accurately before the final /və/; (3) maintaining distinct syllable boundaries in fast speech to avoid blending into /ˌsuːˈpɜːr.nə.və/. Focus on the sequence su-per-no-va, with primary stress on no, and a controlled release in the ending /ə/. Understanding the phonetic chain helps you place the tongue for each vowel and keep the flow natural.
A distinctive feature is the exact placement of stress: the shift to the major beat on 'no' (noʊ) creates a perceptible peak in the word’s cadence. You should also maintain a light, almost schwa-like vowel in the second syllable, preventing it from becoming a full syllable vowel. Keeping the /ˌsuː/ initial steady and long helps anchor the word before the stress on /ˈnoʊ/.
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US: rhotic /r/ present in /ˌsuː.pərˈnoʊ.və/; longer /ər/ in the second syllable. UK/AU: non-rhotic; /ˌsuː.pəˈnəʊ.və/ with a reduced /ə/ in the second syllable and a clearer /əʊ/ in no. Vowel length and quality differ; practice both versions.
Supernova derives from Latin: “super” meaning ‘above, beyond’ and “nova” from nova, feminine of novus meaning ‘new’. The term was coined in the 19th century by astronomers to describe a star that suddenly brightens dramatically, exceeding its usual luminosity. Early uses referenced novae, a related but less luminous phenomenon, but as astronomical understanding progressed, “supernova” distinguished the catastrophic, high-energy explosion of a star from a slower nova event. The first known written use appears in late 19th to early 20th century astronomical literature, with the term gaining widespread acceptance as telescopic discoveries and catalogs expanded in the 20th century. In modern science, supernovae are categorized by spectral features and light curves (Type I, Type II), reflecting different progenitors and explosion mechanisms, while the metaphorical usage in popular culture has grown to denote spectacular, transformative events. The word’s etymology captures both the astronomical origin and its semantic extension to anything that dramatically “explodes” into new visibility or significance.
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Words that rhyme with "supernova"
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