maternity

/məˈtɝːnɪti/

Syllables ma·ter·ni·ty

Stress ma-TER-ni-ty

Phonics Breakdown

ma

/mə/

schwa

ter

/tɝːr/

r-sound

ni

/nɪ/

short i

ty

/ti/

y vowel i

Meaning

the state or period of being a mother, especially around childbirth

Sound Reference

💡

ma=/mə/(about) + ter=/tɝːr/(term) + ni=/nɪ/(sit) + ty=/ti/(city)

Example

She will take maternity leave after the baby is born.