The word "helicopter" isn't a compound of "heli" and "copter", but "helico" and "pter".

"Helico-" being Greek for "spiral-like" and "pteron" being "wing".

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SW-User

I did know that, per my years of studying Ancient Greek. 🤔

It’s a word where English syllable boundaries don’t fall along etymological lines.

HannibalAteMeOut · 22-25, F

@SW-User what are the English syllable boundaries? In Greek we usually put -o- when we connect words.

SW-User

@HannibalAteMeOut Syllable boundaries are not always clearly defined, but there are phonotactic rules that govern them. For example, an English syllable cannot begin with /pt/ (but this is an acceptable syllable onset in Greek). Thus the syllable boundaries of "helicopter" would be he.li.cop.ter, making it appear as if it's made up of two parts: heli- and -copter.

HannibalAteMeOut · 22-25, F

@SW-User ohh I see, thanks!