Home › Glossary › Letter S

Sardonyx

Gemstones
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A banded chalcedony with red and white layers, symbolizing courage and integrity.

Detailed Definition
Sardonyx appears in classical and Renaissance poetry as a stone of orators and warriors, its stark bands representing moral clarity. Poets use it to convey steadfastness in adversity or the fusion of passion (red) and purity (white). Its historical use in cameos links it to legacy—carving identity into enduring form.
Example
Example in poetry:
Roman poets used sardonyx cameos to depict moral clarity; in oratory poetry, it symbolizes steadfast speech; modern verse uses it to explore integrity in adversity; its red-white bands appear in verses on passion and purity; as chalcedony, it embodies structured resolve; its historical use ties it to legacy carving.
Additional Notes
Sardonyx is a banded chalcedony with layers of sard (reddish-brown) and onyx (black or white); used in Roman seals and Renaissance cameos, it symbolizes courage, eloquence, and virtue—its structured bands offer a visual metaphor for layered identity, moral clarity, or the passage of time.
Also Known As
Sard Onyx
Skip to main content