What is a syllable?
A syllable is a single segment of unbroken sound that has one vowel sound, a diphthong or a syllabic
consonant. It may or may not be surrounded by consonants.
Examples
a ----> a (1 syllable)
bread ---> bread (1 syllable)
female ---> fe-male(2 syllables)
bicycle ---> bi-cy-cle (3 syllables)
interesting---> in-ter-est-ing (4 syllables)
Seven rules to divide words into syllables
Rule # 1
A syllable is formed by at least one vowel (a, e, i, o, u). For example: a, the, plant, ba-na-na, chil-dren,
cam-er-a.
Exceptions:
a) Silent e is not counted as a vowel in a syllable. For example: tape, like, love, ex-treme, take, blue.
b) When two vowels carry one sound (diphthong), they cannot be divided. For example: coin, loud,
bread, moon, sound, beau-ti-ful, a-void.
c) The letter “y” is not strictly a vowel but behaves like one. For example: man-y, bi-cy-cle, i-vy.
Rule # 2
Divide the syllable between two same consonants. For example: rab-bit, let-ter, buf-fet, des-sert, ber-ry.
Rule # 3
Vowel with long/short vowel sound...
a) The consonant goes with the second vowel if the first vowel has a long vowel sound. For example: ba-
sic, ro-bot, wa-ter.
b) The consonant goes with the first vowel if it has a short vowel sound. For example: riv-er, mod-el,
pan-el.
Exception:
Never split two consonants that make only one sound (ch, sh, ph, th, wh & gh) when pronounced
together and aren't the same letter (diagraphs) For example: teach-er, lash-es, graph-ic, pan-ther, bath-
tub.
Rule# 4
Divide between two vowels that make two sounds.
For example: di-et, di-aer-e-sis.
Exception:
Two vowels make one sound.
For example: coat, boat, meet.
Rule # 5
Use prefixes and suffixes to separate syllables.
For example: re-turn, un-u-su-al, pre-paid, end-less, pay-ing, hap-pi-ness, un-kind-ly.
Rule # 6
Compound nouns are always divided between the two words.
For example: some-thing, cup-cake, with-out, how-ev-er, ba-by-sit-ter, class-room, break-fast, sun-flow-
er.
Rule # 7
Divide before the consonant before an "-le" syllable and sounds like “-el”.
For example: a-ble, can-dle, fum-ble, ap-ple, ta-ble, cas-tle.
Exception:
Words which end with “ckle”.
For example: tick-le, tack-le.
Exercise
Rewrite each word in syllables.
basketball
elepant
accelerate
beaver
reptile
photographic
construct
analytically
incomprehensibly
ophthalmology
Picture
Answers
bas-ket-ball (3 syllables)
el-e-phant (3 syllables)
ac-cel-er-ate (5 syllables)
bea-ver (2 syllables)
rep-tile (2 syllables)
pho-to-graph-ic (4 syllables)
con-struct (2 syllables)
an-a-lyt-i-cal-ly (6 syllables)
in-com-pre-hen-si-bly (6 syllables)
oph-thal-mol-o-gy (5 syllables)
13 Comments
Darío Flores6/6/2022 01:11:21 am
Thank you for sharing this useful information, which helps learners of English as a second language; as is
my case.
REPLY
Tinalink7/20/2022 01:56:17 pm
Hi,
I don't understand this point:
b) When two vowels carry one sound (diphthong), they cannot be divided.
For example: coin, loud, bread, moon, sound, beau-ti-ful, a-void.
I hear 2 sounds in all of those like 'aʊ' in 'sound' and 'loud' or 'ɪə' in 'near'. I hear 2 vowel sounds, not 1
and I thought 2 vowel sounds in a word would mean 2 syllables. Could you pls explain this to me?
Thank you,
Tina
REPLY
Great9/14/2022 05:47:01 am
In pronouncing words with two vowels, you have to identify whether they carry a diphthong, a
Triphthong or hiatus.
The only sounds which cannot be syllabified are diphthongs, examples oa , ee, ea, etc.
Meanwhile if they are Triphthong sounds they must be syllabified.
However, the sounds you hear in
"Near" gear" " here" are known as glides not two vowels sounds. Therefore they are called diphthongs.
Remember, all diphthongs represent a syllable.
Great
REPLY
Trena4/18/2023 11:12:37 am
The two sounds you're hearing kind of glide into each other (diphthongs are sometimes called "gliding
vowels"). A simple way of checking if two vowels are in one syllable or two is by placing your hand under
your chin (and ideally with your elbow resting on a table). Say the word and feel how many times your
chin hits your hand. If you're not already feeling too silly, saying the word with a "robot voice" amplifies
the effect even more.
REPLY
C S7/28/2022 07:24:45 am
Dear Tina,
One sound of two sound, it has to do with IPA. IPA will decide it is one sound of two sound.
REPLY
Libna8/18/2022 02:02:59 pm
Hi ,
Can you explain rule 3 . Vowel with long/ short vowel sound..
How you will know
( it's bit tricky to understand when English is second or third language )
That vowel has a long or short sound in the words like ba-sic and riv-er
Plz help.
Thank you.
REPLY
Mariana I S Mattos8/30/2022 10:52:15 pm
think of it like this: you know when you sit on a plane between two people, and you feel shy and small?
(short) And when there's no one next to you you can streeeetch? (loooong)
when a vowel can say its name, it's long - there's space for the vowel to say it loud and clear! Like in HI,
and the O HELLO: no one next to it.
but the E in Hello is stuck between consonants, so it's very shy and has a small sound, not the Original E
sound. (/ee/)
In short:
LONG sounds: A /ay/, E /ee/, I /ai/, O /ow/, U /you/
When the vowel is alone at the end of a syllable, it's more comfortable, so it can say it's name and be
itself, like in ba-sic /ay/
Hope this helps, specially if you imagine the situations!
Look up Nessy Open Syllables on Youtube.
REPLY
Karina9/28/2022 07:01:22 am
Sorry, but is still doesn't make any sense. If I see a particular word for the first time in my entire life, how
exactly am I supposed to guess whether I should consider a vowel as a long one or short? To know how
to pronounce a vowel you need to know whether the syllable is open or not. To know that, in turn, you
need to know if the vowel is short or long. It is a perfect trap, an endless circle. As a native speaker who
happens to see an unfamiliar word, what do you do in such a situation? I asked several English teachers
and all them failed to explain
Frances10/28/2022 02:52:46 pm
Karina: You are correct. These rules, especially the long/short vowel pronunciation, are easier for native
speakers to apply than for ESL students because native speakers have most probably heard the word
before. If you have never heard the word, you cannot know if the vowel is long or short. To find that out,
you can go to an online dictionary such as [Link] or any other. There is a button you can press
and the word is pronounced, and it is also divided into syllables.
There are however some guidelines, google the "Rabbit Rule" for divididing many two-syllable words;
this "rule" will also help with pronunciation. I hope this helps.
REPLY
Sophia1/8/2023 07:43:10 am
Thank so much for explaining this topic. I'll definitely teach my kids with a lot of confidence now. I also
learnt a lot from the questions asked. I appreciate.
REPLY
Siddulink6/23/2023 11:08:30 pm
Video in the world eo are together why does it have 3 syllable can give explain
REPLY
peekay9/17/2023 10:47:30 pm
Hi there, everyone|
all of these discussions are amazing and so mind-blowing as well. however, my question is that, how can
we bridge those elements in actual teaching?
please clarify
thanks!
REPLY
Alison Shortridge10/12/2023 07:51:29 am
What about the words "baker" or "baking"? The vowel is long, but the correct syllabication is "bak-er" or
"bak-ing". Why is this?
REPLY
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