Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sphalerite

/ˈsfeɪ.ləˌɹaɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.74 in modern English

Syllables: spha-lerite
IPA: /ˈsfeɪ.ləˌɹaɪt/

15

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A yellow, brown or black, sometimes red, green white or colorless mineral with cubic crystals, of a chemical formula (Zn,Fe)S, often containing also minor metals, such as cadmium, gallium, germanium and indium.

Example Sentences

"The Monte Cristo and Philadelphia sphalerites have similar mean Pb concentrations (80 ppm) that are lower than the Lucky Dog sphalerites (119 ppm)."

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σφαλερός (sphalerós, “unstable, unsteady, precarious”) + -ite; named in 1847.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: σφαλερός

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈsfeɪ.ləˌɹaɪt/

Inflected Forms

sphalerites (plural)

Derived Forms

sphaleritic

Synonyms

blende zincblende zinc blende

Questions

How do you pronounce sphalerite?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsfeɪ.ləˌɹaɪt/.
What does sphalerite mean?: A yellow, brown or black, sometimes red, green white or colorless mineral with cubic crystals, of a chemical formula (Zn,Fe)S, often containing also minor metals, such as cadmium, gallium, germanium and indium.
Where does sphalerite come from?: From Ancient Greek σφαλερός (sphalerós, “unstable, unsteady, precarious”) + -ite; named in 1847.

How to pronounce sphalerite

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