2 syllables: Syn, tax. Stress on Syn.
SIN-taks
/ˈsɪˌntæks/
Syntax is pronounced SIN-taks (/ˈsɪˌntæks/). It has two syllables (Syn-tax), with the stress on "Syn". Syntax is the branch of linguistics that studies the rules by which words are combined to form phrases and sentences. It also refers to the arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses to convey meaning. In computing, syntax defines the structural rules of programming languages and data formats. Mastery of syntax helps you parse meaning and build well-formed expressions in language or code.
nounSyntax is the branch of linguistics that studies the rules by which words are combined to form phrases and sentences. It also refers to the arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses to convey meaning. In computing, syntax defines the structural rules of programming languages and data formats. Mastery of syntax helps you parse meaning and build well-formed expressions in language or code.
- You may over-articulate the second syllable or flatten it; keep primary stress on the first syllable. • Ensure a crisp /t/ before /æ/; avoid blending the /t/ into /æ/ or turning it into /d/ or /ɾ/. • Don’t vocalize the ending; end with a clear /ks/.- Practice with slow, precise enunciation to avoid an extra schwa between /n/ and /t/; aim for a clean /n/ to /t/ transition.
"The syntax of the sentence is incorrect, making it hard to understand."
"In programming, Python’s syntax uses indentation to define blocks of code."
"The professor explained the syntax rules for forming noun phrases."
Say SIN-taks, with primary stress on the first syllable. The initial consonant is a clear /s/, the vowel is a short /ɪ/ as in “sit,” followed by /n/. The second syllable begins with a dark /t/ and ends with a /æ/ or /æks/ cluster reduced quickly: /tæks/. IPA: US /ˈsɪnˌtæks/, UK /ˈ sɪn.tæks/, AU /ˈ sɪn.tæks/. Audio reference: listen to reputable pronunciation guides or dictionary entries to hear the two-syllable rhythm.
Common errors: (1) over- or under-emphasizing the second syllable, making it SYNTAX with equal stress; correct with primary stress on first syllable /ˈsɪnˌtæks/. (2) Slurring the /t/ into the /æ/ making sin-taks or sin-tacks; ensure a clean /t/ followed by /æ/. (3) Mispronouncing /ɪ/ as /ɛ/ or /ɪə/; keep a short, lax /ɪ/ as in sit. Practice with slow, deliberate repetition and minimal pairs focusing on vowel quality and the consonant cluster at the end.
US: /ˈsɪnˌtæks/ with rhotic, clear /ɪ/ and /æ/. UK: /ˈsɪn.tæks/ often with non-rhotic treatment in rapid speech; still two syllables with /æ/; AU: /ˈsɪnˌtæks/ similar to US, but vowel timbre can be flatter; watch for quicker linkage in connected speech. In all, the primary stress stays on the first syllable, with a secondary tilt on the second syllable in many pronunciations.
The difficulty often lies in the final consonant cluster /-tæks/ after a short /æ/ vowel and the rapid transition from /n/ to /t/. Edge cases include avoiding an extraneous vowel between /n/ and /t/: do not insert a vowel. Also, non-native speakers may misplace the stress or flatten the vowel in quick speech, leading to /ˈsɪn.teɪk/ or /ˈsɪn.tæks/. Focus on a crisp /n/ closure and the /t/ release into /æ/.
Is there a silent letter in 'syntax'? No—it's pronounced with all letters sounded as /ˈsɪnˌtæks/: the s, i, n, t, a, x are all heard, with the x producing the /ks/ ending. The challenge is keeping the two-syllable rhythm intact in rapid speech and maintaining crisp /t/ + /ks/ sequence without vowels dropping. IPA cues: /ˈsɪnˌtæks/.
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- US: rhoticity is not crucial for syntax, but you’ll hear a stronger split between /ɪ/ and /n/ with a slight flap in rapid context. - UK: two-syllable, often crisper, with less vowel length variation; minor variation in the second syllable; - AU: similar to US with a broader, open vowel in /æ/ and a slightly flatter overall intonation. IPA references: US /ˈsɪnˌtæks/, UK /ˈsɪn.tæks/, AU /ˈsɪnˌtæks/.
Syntax originates from the Ancient Greek syntaxis, from sun- ‘together’ + tassein ‘to arrange, order’ (later Latinized as syntaxis). In classical rhetoric and grammar, syntaxis referred to the arrangement or ordering of words into phrases and clauses. The Latinized term gained prominence in the Late Middle Ages as scholars sought a formal discipline describing how sentences are built. In English, syntax entered scholarly usage by the 16th–17th centuries, aligning with the broader study of grammar and linguistics. Over time, the term expanded beyond pure grammar to denote the formal rules of any symbolic system that governs structure, including computer languages where syntax dictates permissible sequences of characters to form valid statements. The concept thus traverses natural language and formal languages, retaining the core meaning of “arrangement according to rules.”
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Words that rhyme with "Syntax"
-lax sounds
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