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What is a syllable?
Younger learners: A syllable is a ‘beat’ in a word with a vowel.
Older learners: A syllable is a unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants.
The number of times that you hear the sound of a vowel is the number of syllables in a word.
�
Syl-la-ble
rol-ler-blades
Chop the syllables!
Every time you say a syllable karate chop your forearm!
Clapping syllables can sometimes be too loud and distracting.
Vowels
a e i o u y
A vowel is a letter that makes your mouth open when you say it.
b c d f g h j k l m n
p q r s t v w x y z
Consonants
A consonant is a letter you say by closing your mouth or by blocking the air.
The Letter Y
The letter Y makes a consonant sound when it comes at the start of a word or syllable.
Yarn
Ka-yak
y
y
The Letter Y
The letter Y makes a vowel sound when it is in the middle of a syllable or when it is at the end of a word.
gym
fly
ĭ
ī
rainy
ē
Open and closed syllables
An open syllable is a syllable that ends with a vowel, and the vowel usually makes a long sound.
Rō-bŏt 🤖
A closed syllable is a syllable where the vowel is followed or ‘closed in’ by a consonant. The vowel usually makes a short sound.
open
syllable
closed syllable
This rule can be overridden by unstressed syllables with schwa vowels or the speakers accent and dialect.
Watch this Mr Spelling video for more information.
Stressed and unstressed syllables
A stressed syllable is said louder and longer in a word.
com-PUT-er 💻
An unstressed syllable is said softer and quicker in a word. The vowel sound can be weaker and can become a schwa vowel.
stressed syllable
The Sounds of Y
Sound of Y | IPA | When does it make this sound? | Example words |
Consonant | /j/ | Y makes a consonant sound at the start of a syllable or word. (Exceptions: Yves, Yvonne, Yggdrasil) | yellow, kayak, yes |
Short I | /ɪ/ | Y makes a short I sound in the middle of a syllable. | gym, myth, crypt |
Long I | /aɪ/ | Y makes a long I sound at the end of a one-syllable word, sometimes at the end of a two syllable words where the second syllable is stressed and sometimes in suffixes. | cry, fly, deny, apply, identify |
Long E | /iː/ | Y makes a long E sound mostly at the end of two or more-syllable words. | baby, happy, rainy |
Why are syllables tricky?
Syllables can be divided based on either spoken sounds or written letter patterns.
�When spelling, learners can identify syllables by listening for distinct vowel sounds in speech.
When reading, learners can identify syllables by looking for vowel–consonant patterns (like VC/CV or V/CV) to help with decoding unknown words. However, many aspects of speech can override these vowel-consonant patterns.
�
How are syllables divided?
Dividing a word into syllables isn't an exact science. However, there is one golden rule: Every Syllable needs a vowel.
Here a some other helpful guidelines:
Syllable division may depend on your accent or dialect.
Word | USA | UK | Word | USA | UK |
banana | ba-nan-a (3) | ba-na-na (3) | chocolate | choc-late (2) | choc-o-late (3) |
caramel | cara-mel (2) | ca-ra-mel (3) | family | fam-ly (2) | fam-i-ly (3) |
laboratory | lab-ra-to-ry (4) | la-bor-a-to-ry (5) | mirror | mirr-or (2) | mir-ror (2) |
secretary | sec-re-t’ry (3) | sec-re-ta-ry (4) | ordinary | or-din-’ry (3) | or-di-na-ry (4) |
necessary | nec-es-s’ry (3) | nec-es-sa-ry (4) | literature | lit-ra-ture (3) | lit-er-a-ture (4) |
medicine | med-cine (2) | med-i-cine (3) | temporary | temp-ra-ry (3) | tem-po-ra-ry (4) |
different | diff-rent (2) | dif-fer-ent (3) | interesting | in-trest-ing (3) | in-te-res-ting (4) |
The Reverse
Every Syllable needs a vowel. However, not every vowel is a syllable! Sometimes vowels are silent.
Word | Syllable Division | Silent Vowel | |
chocolate | choc-o-late → choc-late | Silent o | |
vegetable | veg-e-ta-ble → veg-ta-ble | Silent e | |
every | ev-er-y → ev-ry | Silent e | |
different | dif-fer-ent → diff-rent | Silent e | |
Should you split a double letter in a syllable?
Exceptions: Compound words like book-keeper.
What do you think? Comment below.
Kit-ten | Kitt-en |
Follows traditional rules of syllable division. | It doesn't really matter where the consonants fall between the divisions as long as every syllable has a vowel. |
Technically, the letter T has a starting and ending sound or a catch and release sound. Say the word ‘top’ and then say the word ‘pot’ and notice how the T sounds different in both words. Splitting a syllable between a double letter reflects this difference in sound. English syllables usually have a short vowel if followed by a consonant, so splitting in the middle helps illustrate this vowel pattern. | This syllable split keeps the units of sound together. The letter T is not pronounced twice in a double letter so why should it be split between syllables? Historically, the double letter was never a second sound or a catch and release sound but was added into the language to protect short vowels. Generally, phonics programs for younger learners don’t teach catch and release sounds. |
Syllable Types
Type | Pattern | Example | Description |
Closed | ends with a consonant | cat, napkin | The vowel can be short because it’s “closed in” by a consonant. |
Open | ends with a vowel | go, paper | The Vowel makes a long sound most of the time. |
Silent e (VCE) | vowel–consonant–e | cake, hope | Final E makes the first vowel long most of the time. The E is silent. |
Vowel Team | two vowels together | boat, rain | Two vowels can work together to make one sound. |
R-controlled | vowel + r | car, bird, corn | The R changes the vowel’s sound. |
Consonant-le | ends in -le | table, candle | The -le forms its own syllable. Usually found at the end of words. |
Schwa | unstressed syllable | PACK-age, | The unstressed syllable weakens the vowel sound and it becomes a schwa vowel. |
How are syllables divided?
These are just helpful patterns and not rules that work 100% of the time.
Rule | Pattern | Example | Description |
VC/CV | Divide between the consonants | nap-kin | Two consonants between vowels are usually split. |
V/CV | Divide after the vowel | ti-ger | The first vowel is usually long when the consonant follows the next syllable. |
VC/V | Divide after the consonant | lem-on | The first vowel is usually short when divided after the consonant. |
V/V | Divide between two vowels | li-on | Two vowels that don’t make one sound usally are divided. |
C-le | Divide before the consonant-le | ta-ble | The -le ending forms its own syllable. |
Compound Words | Divide between base words | sun-set | Each base word keeps its pronunciation. |
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
I'm Mr Spelling! Not misspelling!
picnic
:
/ˈpɪknɪk/
Sentence: We had a picnic in the park.
Meaning: A meal eaten outdoors.
Sounds: p i c n i c Stress: PIC-nic
noun, verb
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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picnic
:
/ˈpɪknɪk/
Sentence: We had a picnic in the park.
Meaning: A meal eaten outdoors.
noun, verb
Sounds: p i c n i c Stress: PIC-nic
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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pic-nic
:
/ˈpɪknɪk/
Sentence: We had a picnic in the park.
Meaning: A meal eaten outdoors.
noun, verb
closed syllable
closed syllable
Sounds: p i c n i c Stress: PIC-nic
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
I teach spelling rules because spelling rules!
coconut
:
/ˈkoʊkəˌnʌt/
Sentence: He drank coconut water.
Meaning: A large fruit with a hard shell and white inside.
noun
Sounds: c o c o n u t Stress: CO-co-nut
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
I teach spelling rules because spelling rules!
coconut
:
/ˈkoʊkəˌnʌt/
Sentence: He drank coconut water.
Meaning: A large fruit with a hard shell and white inside.
Sounds: c o c o n u t Stress: CO-co-nut
noun
ə
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
I teach spelling rules because spelling rules!
co-co-nut
:
/ˈkoʊkəˌnʌt/
Sentence: He drank coconut water.
Meaning: A large fruit with a hard shell and white inside.
noun
closed syllable
unstressed
syllable with schwa vowel
open
syllable
Sounds: c o c o n u t Stress: CO-co-nut
ə
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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cupcake
:
/ˈkʌpkeɪk/
Sentence: The chef baked chocolate cupcakes.
Meaning: A small cake for one person.
Sounds: c u p c a ke
noun
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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cupcake
:
/ˈkʌpkeɪk/
Sentence: The chef baked chocolate cupcakes.
Meaning: A small cake for one person.
Sounds: c u p c a ke
noun
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
Always split syllables between the two words in a compound word.
cup-cake
:
/ˈkʌpkeɪk/
Sentence: The chef baked chocolate cupcakes.
Meaning: A small cake for one person.
Sounds: c u p c a ke
noun
closed syllable
silent E syllable
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
Download this PowerPoint from the video description.
toilet
:
/ˈtɔɪlɪt/
Sentence: The toilet is in the bathroom.
Meaning: A place to throw out body waste.
Sounds: t oi l e t
noun
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
Download this PowerPoint from the video description.
toilet
:
/ˈtɔɪlɪt/
Sentence: The toilet is in the bathroom.
Meaning: A place to throw out body waste.
Sounds: t oi l e t
noun
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
Download this PowerPoint from the video description.
toi-let
:
/ˈtɔɪlɪt/
Sentence: The toilet is in the bathroom.
Meaning: A place to throw out body waste.
Sounds: t oi l e t
noun
closed syllable
vowel team syllable
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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unicorn
:
/ˈjuːnɪkɔːrn/
Sentence: He drew a pink unicorn.
Meaning: A mythical horse with one horn.
Sounds: u n i c or n
noun
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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unicorn
:
/ˈjuːnɪkɔːrn/
Sentence: He drew a pink unicorn.
Meaning: A mythical horse with one horn.
Sounds: u n i c or n
noun
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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u-ni-corn
:
/ˈjuːnɪkɔːrn/
Sentence: He drew a pink unicorn.
Meaning: A mythical horse with one horn.
Sounds: u n i c or n
noun
open
syllable
open
syllable
R controlled
syllable
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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bicycle
:
/ˈbaɪsɪkəl/
Sentence: The student rode her bicycle to school.
Meaning: A vehicle with two wheels.
Sounds: b i c y c le
noun, verb
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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bicycle
:
/ˈbaɪsɪkəl/
Sentence: The student rode her bicycle to school.
Meaning: A vehicle with two wheels.
Sounds: b i c y c le
noun, verb
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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bi-cy-cle
:
/ˈbaɪsɪkəl/
Sentence: The student rode her bicycle to school.
Meaning: A vehicle with two wheels.
Sounds: b i c y c le
noun, verb
open
syllable
consonant le
syllable
Y is acting as a vowel here.
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
Download this PowerPoint from the video description.
prk
:
/pɑːrk/
Sentence: We walked in the park.
Meaning: A public area with grass and trees.
Sounds: p ar k
noun
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
Download this PowerPoint from the video description.
prk ?
:
/pɑːrk/
When spelling a word from sounds, if you can’t hear a vowel in a syllable it could be because of an R-controlled vowel.
noun
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
Download this PowerPoint from the video description.
park
:
/pɑːrk/
noun
✔️
When spelling a word from sounds, if you can’t hear a vowel in a syllable, it could be because of an R-controlled vowel.
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
I'm Mr Spelling! Not misspelling!
:
/ˈskrɪbəl/
Sentence: The child scribbled on the paper.
Meaning: To write or draw carelessly.
Sounds: s c r i bb le
verb, noun
scribbl ?
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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scrib-bl ?
:
When spelling a word from sounds, if you can’t hear a vowel in a syllable, it could be because of the letter L. Silent final E is added to the end of the word to give the L syllable a vowel.
ESNAV - Every syllable needs a vowel.
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scrib-ble
:
/ˈskrɪbəl/
Sentence: The child scribbled on the paper.
Meaning: To write or draw carelessly.
Sounds: s c r i bb le
verb, noun
What is a syllable?
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elephant
:
/ˈɛləfənt/
Sentence: The elephant sprayed water.
Meaning: A large animal with a trunk.
Sounds: e l e ph a n t
noun
What is a syllable?
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elephant
:
/ˈɛləfənt/
Sentence: The elephant sprayed water.
Meaning: A large animal with a trunk.
Sounds: e l e ph a n t
noun
What is a syllable?
I teach spelling rules because spelling rules!
el-e-phant
:
/ˈɛləfənt/
Sentence: The elephant sprayed water.
Meaning: A large animal with a trunk.
Sounds: e l e ph a n t
noun
ə
What is a syllable?
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chicken
:
/ˈtʃɪkɪn/
Sentence: The chicken crossed the road.
Meaning: A farm bird raised for eggs or meat.
Sounds: ch i ck e n
noun
What is a syllable?
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chicken
:
/ˈtʃɪkɪn/
Sentence: The chicken crossed the road.
Meaning: A farm bird raised for eggs or meat.
Sounds: ch i ck e n
noun
What is a syllable?
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chick-en
:
/ˈtʃɪkɪn/
Sentence: The chicken crossed the road.
Meaning: A farm bird raised for eggs or meat.
Sounds: ch i ck e n
noun
What is a syllable?
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cookie
:
/ˈkʊki/
Sentence: I ate a chocolate chip cookie.
Meaning: A small sweet baked snack.
Sounds: c oo k ie
noun
What is a syllable?
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cookie
:
/ˈkʊki/
Sentence: I ate a chocolate chip cookie.
Meaning: A small sweet baked snack.
Sounds: c oo k ie
noun
What is a syllable?
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cook-ie
:
/ˈkʊki/
Sentence: I ate a chocolate chip cookie.
Meaning: A small sweet baked snack.
Sounds: c oo k ie
noun
What is a syllable?
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poodle
:
/ˈpuːdəl/
Sentence: The poodle barked loudly.
Meaning: A breed of dog with curly hair.
Sounds: p oo d le
noun
What is a syllable?
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poodle
:
/ˈpuːdəl/
Sentence: The poodle barked loudly.
Meaning: A breed of dog with curly hair.
Sounds: p oo d le
noun
What is a syllable?
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poo-dle
:
/ˈpuːdəl/
Sentence: The poodle barked loudly.
Meaning: A breed of dog with curly hair.
Sounds: p oo d le
noun
What is a syllable?
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watermelon
:
/ˈwɔːtərˌmɛlən/
Sentence: She ate a slice of watermelon.
Meaning: A large fruit with green rind and red inside.
Sounds: w a t er m e l o n
noun
What is a syllable?
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watermelon
:
/ˈwɔːtərˌmɛlən/
Sentence: He ate a slice of watermelon.
Meaning: A large fruit with green rind and red inside.
Sounds: w a t er m e l o n
noun
What is a syllable?
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wa-ter-mel-on
:
/ˈwɔːtərˌmɛlən/
Sentence: She ate a slice of watermelon.
Meaning: A large fruit with green rind and red inside.
Sounds: w a t er m e l o n
noun
What is a syllable?
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calculator
:
/ˈkælkjəˌleɪtər/
Sentence: He used a calculator for the test.
Meaning: A device used for math calculations.
Sounds: c a l c u l a t or
noun
What is a syllable?
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calculator
:
/ˈkælkjəˌleɪtər/
Sentence: She used a calculator for the test.
Meaning: A device used for math calculations.
Sounds: c a l c u l a t or
noun
What is a syllable?
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cal-cu-la-tor
:
/ˈkælkjəˌleɪtər/
Sentence: He used a calculator for the test.
Meaning: A device used for math calculations.
Sounds: c a l c u l a t or
noun
What is a syllable?
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turtle
:
/ˈtɜːrtəl/
Sentence: The turtle swam in the pond.
Meaning: An animal with a shell.
Sounds: t ur t le
noun
What is a syllable?
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turtle
:
/ˈtɜːrtəl/
Sentence: The turtle swam in the pond.
Meaning: An animal with a shell.
Sounds: t ur t le
noun
What is a syllable?
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tur-tle
:
/ˈtɜːrtəl/
Sentence: The turtle swam in the pond.
Meaning: An animal with a shell.
Sounds: t ur t le
noun
What is a syllable?
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kangaroo
:
/ˌkæŋɡəˈruː/
Sentence: The kangaroo hopped away.
Meaning: A jumping animal from Australia.
Sounds: k a n g a r oo
noun
What is a syllable?
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kangaroo
:
/ˌkæŋɡəˈruː/
Sentence: The kangaroo hopped away.
Meaning: A jumping animal from Australia.
Sounds: k a n g a r oo
noun
What is a syllable?
I teach spelling rules because spelling rules!
kan-ga-roo
:
/ˌkæŋɡəˈruː/
Sentence: The kangaroo hopped away.
Meaning: A jumping animal from Australia.
Sounds: k a n g a r oo
noun
What is a syllable?
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electricity
:
/ɪˌlɛkˈtrɪsɪti/
Sentence: Electricity powers the lights.
Meaning: Energy used to power devices.
Sounds: e l e c t r i c i t y
noun
What is a syllable?
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electricity
:
/ɪˌlɛkˈtrɪsɪti/
Sentence: Electricity powers the lights.
Meaning: Energy used to power devices.
Sounds: e l e c t r i c i t y
noun
What is a syllable?
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e-lec-tri-ci-ty
:
/ɪˌlɛkˈtrɪsɪti/
Sentence: Electricity powers the lights.
Meaning: Energy used to power devices.
Sounds: e l e c t r i c i t y
noun
What is a syllable?
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hippopotamus
:
/ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs/
Sentence: The hippopotamus bathed in the river.
Meaning: A large African river animal.
Sounds: h i pp o p o t a m u s
noun
What is a syllable?
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hippopotamus
:
/ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs/
Sentence: The hippopotamus bathed in the river.
Meaning: A large African river animal.
Sounds: h i pp o p o t a m u s
noun
What is a syllable?
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hipp-o-pot-a-mus
:
/ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs/
Sentence: The hippopotamus bathed in the river.
Meaning: A large African river animal.
Sounds: h i pp o p o t a m u s
noun
What is a syllable?
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monkey
:
/ˈmʌŋki/
Sentence: The monkey climbed the tree.
Meaning: An animal that lives in trees.
Sounds: m o n k ey
noun
What is a syllable?
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monkey
:
/ˈmʌŋki/
Sentence: The monkey climbed the tree.
Meaning: An animal that lives in trees.
Sounds: m o n k ey
noun
What is a syllable?
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mon-key
:
/ˈmʌŋki/
Sentence: The monkey climbed the tree.
Meaning: An animal that lives in trees.
Sounds: m o n k ey
noun
What is a syllable?
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television
:
/ˈtɛləˌvɪʒən/
Sentence: We watched a show on television.
Meaning: An electronic device for watching programs.
Sounds: t e l e v i si o n
noun
What is a syllable?
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television
:
/ˈtɛləˌvɪʒən/
Sentence: We watched a show on television.
Meaning: An electronic device for watching programs.
Sounds: t e l e v i si o n
noun
What is a syllable?
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tel-e-vi-sion
:
/ˈtɛləˌvɪʒən/
Sentence: We watched a show on television.
Meaning: An electronic device for watching programs.
Sounds: t e l e v i si o n
noun
ə