Terpsiphone
ter-PSI-fo-nee
Genus
delightful voice
Literally: voice/sound of delight
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| terpsi- | delight, gladness | Greek (terps, -i) | combining form terpsi- from Greek terpsis; the same root gives Terpsichore, the Muse of choral dance and song |
| -phone | sound, voice | Greek (phon, =a, -e) | the dictionary also records a homograph phon meaning 'kill', but 'voice' is unambiguously correct here |
Terpsiphone is a compound noun formed from two Greek elements: the combining form terpsi- (from terpsis, 'delight') + phone ('voice'). The compound functions as a single feminine noun used as a genus name (treated as Latin feminine). It is used alone, with no specific epithet in this query; the name describes the bird's beautiful, melodious call.
Pronunciation
- ter-PSI-fo-nee Four syllables: ter-psi-pho-ne. Penult 'pho' has a short 'o' followed by a single consonant 'n' before the final vowel 'e', so it does not attract stress. Stress therefore falls on the antepenult 'psi'.
Other readings
A purely fanciful reading terp- (Latin ter, 'three times') + sipho ('tube/pipe') + -phone ('voice') is theoretically possible by letter-matching but is not etymologically supported; the birds are named for their song, and terpsi- as a unit is the correct read.
Terpsiphone is the genus of paradise flycatchers (family Monarchidae), named for the striking melodious calls of these birds. The root terps, -i is confirmed in the dictionary. Phone (voice) is also confirmed; the homograph meaning 'kill' is irrelevant here. Final -e is a standalone vowel pronounced as a long 'ee', per the rule that a final vowel (other than -a) is long.