Rules for Dividing Syllables

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A syllable is a portion of a word that constitutes a single vocal utterance when spoken aloud. The word "about," for example, contains two syllables. When saying "about" out loud, you make two distinct sounds, and each sound is unbroken. These sounds are the two syllables that make up the word. Dividing a word into its constituent syllables is a part of many basic English classes and can help you understand the pronunciation of a specific word.                                                                                       

               

•                                                                         Syllable Types                                                       
  •                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         There are six types of syllables. "Closed syllables" contain only one vowel and end with a consonant. "On" and "ask" are closed syllables. An "open syllable" also contains one vowel, but the vowel comes at the end. "No" and "so" are closed syllables. "Silent-E syllables" are syllables that end in "e" and are preceded directly by a single consonant with a single vowel before that. "Ate" and "these" are silent-E syllables. "Vowel combo syllables" contain groups of two or three vowels with consonants that affect the sound of the syllable. "Rain" and "noise" are vowel combo syllables. "Car" and "deer" are examples of "vowel-R syllables," syllables with one vowel that end with an "r." The final type is the "consonant-L-E syllable" which describes a consonant followed by "le" such as "-ble" or "-cle."
                                                                   
                                                           
    
    
                                                                          Amount of Syllables                                                       
  •                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The easiest way to determine the amount of syllables in a word is to say the word out loud and count how many sounds you had to make to fully say the word. Of course, this only works if you know how to pronounce the word. If you are dealing with a written word, count the vowels in the word. Subtract silent vowels such as an "e" at the end of a word or the second of two vowels in a single sound. This sound is a diphthong. The number of vowels that remain is the same as the number of syllables in the word.
                                                                   
                                                           
    
    
                                                                          Compound Words                                                       
  •                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         A compound word is a single word that is made up of multiple smaller words. "Toothbrush" is a single word made out of the words "tooth" and "brush." "Houseboat," "football" and "grandmother" are other examples of compound words. When dividing the syllables of a compound word, always separate the individual words first. A single syllable never crosses over between words in a compound word, so separate "toothbrush" into "tooth" and "brush" to divide its syllables. Also, divide prefixes and suffixes. These are small parts of words at the end or beginning of words that modify the word. For example, the word "stopping" has the suffix "ing" which modifies the word "stop."
                                                                   
                                                           
    
    
                                                                          Other Dividing Rules                                                       
  •                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         If a word has two consonants in the middle of the word such as in the words "happen," "basket" or "pillow," divide between the two consonants. "Happen" is divided into "hap/pen" and "basket" becomes "bas/ket. If there is only a single consonant in the word, you will usually divide right before the consonant. "Open" is divided into "o/pen." Exceptions to this are called "short sounds." These are consonants after a vowel that constitute a single sound. "Cabin" contains a short sound and is divided into "cab/in." If the word contains an consonant-L-E syllable, divide before the consonant that comes before the "le." Words ending in "-ckle" such as "fickle" or "tickle" are the only exceptions. These are divided so that the "le" is on its own: "fick/le" and "tick/le."