Category: Learning
All words have at least one syllable. When you know how to divide words into you can improve your spelling and reading skills as well as your ability to pronounce words correctly.
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 of syllables
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 of syllables
a → a (1 syllable)
bread → bread (1 syllable)
table → ta-ble (2 syllables)
bicycle* → bi-cy-cle (3 syllables)
interesting → in-ter-est-ing (4 syllables)
* Note the consonant “y” is not strictly a vowel but behaves like one.
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.
b) When two vowels carry one sound (diphthong), they cannot be divided.
For example: coin, loud, blue, bread, moon, a-void.
c) The letter “y” is not strictly a vowel but behaves like one.
For example: man-y, bi-cy-cle,
Rule # 2
Divide the syllable between two same consonants.
For example: rab-bit, let-ter, buf-fet, des-sert, ber-ry.
Rule # 3
If the consonants are different:
a) They go with the second vowel if the first vowel has a short sound.
For example: be-tween.
b) They are divided if the first one has a long sound.
For example: per-son.
Exception:
Never split two consonants that make only one sound when pronounced together and aren't the same letter (diagraphs). The exceptions are: ch, sh, ph, th, wh & gh.
For example: teach-er, sheep, graph-ic, wi-thout, what, laugh.
Rule# 4
Divide before or after a single middle consonant.
a) If the vowel has a long sound.
For example: wa-ter, ba-by, ba-na-na.
b) If the vowel has a short sound.
For example: riv-er, pan-el.
Rule # 5
Use prefixes and suffixes to separate syllables.
For example: re-turn, un-usual, pre-paid, end-less, pay-ing, hap-pi-ness.
Rule # 6
Compound nouns are always divided between the two words.
For example: some-thing, how-ever, baby-sitter, 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, fum-ble, ap-ple, ta-ble, cas-tle.
Exception:
Words which end with “ckle”.
For example: tick-le, tack-le.
bread → bread (1 syllable)
table → ta-ble (2 syllables)
bicycle* → bi-cy-cle (3 syllables)
interesting → in-ter-est-ing (4 syllables)
* Note the consonant “y” is not strictly a vowel but behaves like one.
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.
b) When two vowels carry one sound (diphthong), they cannot be divided.
For example: coin, loud, blue, bread, moon, a-void.
c) The letter “y” is not strictly a vowel but behaves like one.
For example: man-y, bi-cy-cle,
Rule # 2
Divide the syllable between two same consonants.
For example: rab-bit, let-ter, buf-fet, des-sert, ber-ry.
Rule # 3
If the consonants are different:
a) They go with the second vowel if the first vowel has a short sound.
For example: be-tween.
b) They are divided if the first one has a long sound.
For example: per-son.
Exception:
Never split two consonants that make only one sound when pronounced together and aren't the same letter (diagraphs). The exceptions are: ch, sh, ph, th, wh & gh.
For example: teach-er, sheep, graph-ic, wi-thout, what, laugh.
Rule# 4
Divide before or after a single middle consonant.
a) If the vowel has a long sound.
For example: wa-ter, ba-by, ba-na-na.
b) If the vowel has a short sound.
For example: riv-er, pan-el.
Rule # 5
Use prefixes and suffixes to separate syllables.
For example: re-turn, un-usual, pre-paid, end-less, pay-ing, hap-pi-ness.
Rule # 6
Compound nouns are always divided between the two words.
For example: some-thing, how-ever, baby-sitter, 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, fum-ble, ap-ple, ta-ble, cas-tle.
Exception:
Words which end with “ckle”.
For example: tick-le, tack-le.
