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Reading an answer on another Stack Exchange site I've discovered the word "trilean", which I had never heard of. I understand its meaning (the context is computer science; boolean logic has two values, "true" and "false", while trilean logic has three, namely true, false, and something else), but I don't know how to pronounce it, and it is such a niche word that dictionaries don't report it: a search on Onelook doesn't find anything.

  1. Is "tri" pronounced /traɪ/ (as in "triangle") or /trɪ/ (as in "trilogy")? The pronunciation of the prefix "tri" is quite tricky. If I had to guess I'd go for /trɪ/ as in trilogy, but I'm not sure at all.

  2. Also, how do you pronounce "lean" in this case? I expect it to be as in "boolean", and not as in "lean". That is, lee-uhn (two syllables), and not leen (one syllable).

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    Since the word is new and based on 'boolean', TRAI tells the listener immediately that you're moving from 2 to 3 states. Are you, aren't you, or is there a zone in between?
    – Yosef Baskin
    Commented Jul 21, 2023 at 14:09
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    With /trɪ/, wouldn't it be a homophone of trillion? That said, videos of lectures about it might help.
    – alphabet
    Commented Jul 21, 2023 at 16:07
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    Doesn't the context make it obvious the first syllable should be pronounced as 'try…'? Why not go with Alphabet (above)?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    Commented Jul 22, 2023 at 22:44
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    @alphabet — Since it also goes by trivalent and trinary, I'd guess try for trilean. (The rest of the word’s pronunciation should be a no-brainer, based on boolean.)
    – Tinfoil Hat
    Commented Jul 23, 2023 at 2:03
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    Frame challenge: the question assumes that the speaker should use the word "trilean". However, the question is moot, because the correct word for the concept is "ternary".
    – Rosie F
    Commented Aug 7 at 5:53

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