Syllable Rules

What is a syllable?
It’s the sound of a vowel (A, E, I, O, U) that is created when pronouncing the letters
A, E, I, O, U, or Y.
“Y” is a vowel only if it creates an A, E, I, O, or U sound.

• examples: fry, try, cry, & dry
The number of times you hear the sound of a vowel

is the number of syllables in a word.
If two (or more) vowels are next to each other, the number of syllables is the
number of vowel sounds.
• examples: free (1 syllable), eat (1 syllable), & bio (2 syllables)
A silent vowels is not a syllable.

• examples: fire (1 syllable), tire (1 syllable), & sale (1 syllable)
If a word ends with “-le” or “-les” and the “-” is not a vowel, “-le” is a syllable.
• example: apple (2 syllables)
How Many Syllables™

www.How Many Syllables.com
© 2016 How Many Syllables. All rights reserved.
5 Ways to Count Syllables
1. The “Listen Method” 2. The “Chin Method”
a. Say the word. a. Put your hand under your chin.
b. How many times do you b. Say the word.
hear A, E, I, O, or U as a c. How many times does your chin touch
separate sound? your hand?
c. This is the number of syllables. d. This is the number of syllables.
3. The “Clap Method” 4. The “Robot Speak Method”

a. Clapping may help. a. Imagine you’re a robot from the year 2000.
b. Say the word. b. Say a word as this robot.
c. Clap each time you hear c. Listen to the pauses you make.
A, E, I, O, or U as a separate sound. d. How many parts does your word have?
Example:
d. The number of claps is the
 robot = “ro” *pause* “bot” = 2 syllables
number of syllables.
e. This is the number of syllables.
5. The “Written Method”

a. Count the number of vowels (A, E, I, O, U) in the word.
 Add 1 every time the letter ‘y’ makes an A, E, I, O, or U sound.
 Subtract 1 for each silent vowel (like a silent ‘e’ at the end of a word).
b. Subtract 1 for each diphthong (au, oy, oo) or triphthong (iou) in the word.
c. Add 1 if the word ends with “le” or “les” and the letter before the “le” is a not a vowel.
d. The number you get is the number of syllables in your word.

Syllable Division Rules
1. Separate prefixes and suffixes from root words.
o examples: pre-view, work-ing, re-do, end-less, & out-ing
2. Are two (or more) consonants next to each other?

o Divide between the 1st and 2nd consonants.
 examples: buf-fet, des-sert, ob-ject, ber-ry, & pil-grim
o Never split 2 consonants that make only 1 sound when pronounced together and
aren't the same letter (i.e., ‘ff’).
 examples: th, sh, ph, th, ch, & wh
3. Is the consonant surrounded by vowels?

o Does the vowel have a long sound? (Like the ‘i’ in line)
 Divide before the consonant.
 examples: ba-by, re-sult, i-vy, fro-zen, & Cu-pid
o Does the vowel have a short sound? (Like the ‘i’ in mill)
 Divide after the consonant.
 examples: met-al, riv-er, mod-el, val-ue, & rav-age
4. Does the word end with ‘ckle’?

o Divide right before the ‘le.’
o examples: tack-le, freck-le, tick-le, & buck-le
5. Does the word end with ‘le’ (not ‘ckle’)?

o Is the letter before the ‘le’ a consonant?
 Divide 1 letter before the ‘le.’
 examples: ap-ple, rum-ble, fa-ble, & ta-ble
o Is the letter before the ‘le’ a vowel?

 Do nothing.
 examples: ale, scale, sale, file, & tile

Syllable Types
Every word is made from syllables. The English language has 6 syllable types:
Open, Closed, R-controlled, Vowel Team, Silent-e, and C-le.
Open Syllable
• An open syllable has only one vowel. The vowel has a long sound (like the ‘i’ in line) and is
the last letter of the syllable.
• Open syllables have only one consonant between the open syllable and the next vowel.
• examples: ba-by, fe-male, i-vy, fro-zen, & Cu-pid
Closed Syllable
• A closed syllable has only one vowel. The vowel has a short sound (like the ‘i’ in mill).
• If the word is only 2 letters, it must end with a consonant.

o examples: in, on, of, at, & it
• If the word is 3+ letters, a closed syllable has 1 consonant before and 1+ consonants after
the vowel.
o examples: cat, catch, net, nest, web, man, roll, & bark
• If a word has 2 closed syllables next to each other, there will be two consonants between
the vowels.
o examples: win-ter, sum-mer, com-mon, & tem-per
pg. 1 of 3

Syllable Types
R-Controlled Syllable
• An r-controlled syllable is a vowel, diphthong, or triphthong with an “r” or a “re” after it.
o examples: deer, whis-per, worth, care, & fire
• R-controlled vowels are pronounced differently way because they are “controlled” by the r.
o er, ur, & ir vowels sound like the er in “her”
 examples: per, fur, her, birth, shirt, & hurt
o some ar vowels sound like the ar in “far”

 examples: par, far, car, & star
o other ar vowels sound like the ar in “share”

 examples: pair, hare, hair, & stare
o or vowels sound like the or in “for”

 examples: or, for, floor, & door
Vowel Team Syllable
• A vowel team syllable is a group of 2 - 4 letters, usually vowels, which make a 1 vowel sound.
• If a vowel team is made of 2 vowels, usually only the first vowel is pronounced.
o examples: rain, fail, suit, & clean
• A vowel team can create a long or short vowel sound.

o examples: toast, look, saw, feel, wear, & bread
• If a vowel team syllable has a consonant in it, the vowel is usually pronounced differently
from normal vowels.
o examples: walk, loud, sound, though, te-di-ous, tight, & straw
• Fun fact: Vowels teams are usually old words whose pronunciation changed over long periods of
time. They're only learned through practice and recognition.
pg. 2 of 3

Syllable Types
Silent-e (VCe) Syllable
• The silent-e syllable is also called VCe, which stands for Vowel-Consonant-e.
o It consists of a vowel, followed by a consonant, followed by an “e” that is silent.
• It's usually the last syllable in a root word.
• The vowel has a long sound (like the ‘i’ in line).
• examples: take, cake, theme, line, tone, tune, & ex-ile
C-le Syllable
• The C-le syllable is also called the Consonant-le.
o It consists of a consonant followed by an “le.”
• It's usually the last syllable in a root word.
• Does the word end with ‘ckle’?

• Does the word end with ‘le’ (not ‘ckle’)?


 Do nothing.
pg. 3 of 3

Syllable Patterns
Words can divided into syllables is by using the Syllable Pattern Rules below:
1. Separate prefixes and suffixes from root words.

o examples: pre-view, work-ing, re-do, end-less, & out-ing
2. Write a V on top of every vowel.
3. Write a C on top of every consonant.
4. Use the V (vowel) & C (consonant) patterns below.
VC/CV and VC/CCV
Divide between the 1st and 2nd consonants.

o examples: buf-fet, des-sert, ob-ject, ber-ry, & pil-grim
Never split 2 consonants that are different letters, but make only 1 sound when
pronounced together.
o examples: th, sh, ph, th, ch, & wh
V/CV and VC/V
Does the 1st vowel have a long sound? (Like the ‘i’ in line)
o Divide before the consonant: V/CV
o examples: ba-by, re-sult, i-vy, fro-zen, & Cu-pid
Does the 1st vowel have a short sound? (Like the ‘i’ in mill)
o Divide after the consonant: VC/V
o examples: met-al, riv-er, mod-el, val-ue, & rav-age
pg. 1 of 2

Syllable Patterns
CV/V, CV/VC, and CV/VVC
Do the vowels make 2 different vowel sounds?
o Divide between the vowel letters which separate the different sounds.
o examples: tri-o, po-em, li-on, be-ing, & cu-ri-ous
VCe
VCe stands for Vowel-Consonant-e. It’s usually the last syllable in a root word.
The “e” in VCe is usually silent.
If the word has more than 1 syllable, divide before the vowel.
o examples: ex-ile. take, line, tone, & tune
C-le
C-le stands for Consonant-le. It’s usually the last syllable in a root word.
Does the word end with ‘ckle’?

Does the word end with ‘le’ (not ‘ckle’)?


 Do nothing.
pg. 2 of 2

Fruits & Vegetables
Instructions: Divide the following fruits and vegetables into syllables.
1. Apple _______________ 26. Kiwi _______________

2. Asparagus _______________ 27. Lettuce _______________
3. Avocado _______________ 28. Mango _______________
4. Banana _______________ 29. Mushroom _______________
5. Beet _______________ 30. Nectarine _______________
6. Bell Pepper _______________ 31. Onion _______________
7. Blueberry _______________ 32. Orange _______________
8. Broccoli _______________ 33. Papaya _______________
9. Cabbage _______________ 34. Pea _______________
10. Cantaloupe _______________ 35. Peach _______________
11. Carrot _______________ 36. Pear _______________
12. Cauliflower _______________ 37. Pineapple _______________
13. Celery _______________ 38. Plum _______________
14. Cherry _______________ 39. Pomegranate _______________
15. Collard Greens _______________ 40. Potato _______________
16. Corn _______________ 41. Pumpkin _______________
17. Cucumber _______________ 42. Red Pepper _______________
18. Eggplant _______________ 43. Spinach _______________
19. Grape _______________ 44. Squash _______________
20. Grapefruit _______________ 45. Strawberry _______________
21. Green Beans _______________ 46. Sweet Potato _______________
22. Green Onion _______________ 47. Tangerine _______________
23. Honeydew _______________ 48. Tomato _______________
24. Hot Pepper _______________ 49. Raspberry _______________
25. Kale _______________ 50. Watermelon _______________

Fruits & Vegetables
Answer Key
1. Apple Ap-ple 26. Kiwi Ki-wi
2. Asparagus As-par-a-gus 27. Lettuce Let-tuce
3. Avocado Av-o-ca-do 28. Mango Man-go
4. Banana Ba-nan-a 29. Mushroom Mush-room
5. Beet Beet 30. Nectarine Nec-tar-ine
6. Bell Pepper Bell Pep-per 31. Onion On-ion
7. Blueberry Blue-ber-ry 32. Orange Or-ange
8. Broccoli Broc-co-li 33. Papaya Pa-pa-ya
9. Cabbage Cab-bage 34. Pea Pea
10. Cantaloupe Can-ta-loupe 35. Peach Peach
11. Carrot Car-rot 36. Pear Pear
12. Cauliflower Cau-li-flow-er 37. Pineapple Pine-ap-ple
13. Celery Cel-er-y 38. Plum Plum
14. Cherry Cher-ry 39. Pomegranate Pom-eg-ran-ate
15. Collard Greens Col-lard Greens 40. Potato Po-ta-to
16. Corn Corn 41. Pumpkin Pump-kin
17. Cucumber Cu-cum-ber 42. Red Pepper Red Pep-per
18. Eggplant Egg-plant 43. Spinach Spin-ach
19. Grape Grape 44. Squash Squash
20. Grapefruit Grape-fruit 45. Strawberry Straw-ber-ry
21. Green Beans Green Beans 46. Sweet Potato Sweet Po-ta-to
22. Green Onion Green On-ion 47. Tangerine Tan-ger-ine
23. Honeydew Hon-ey-dew 48. Tomato To-ma-to
24. Hot Pepper Hot Pep-per 49. Raspberry Rasp-ber-ry
25. Kale Kale 50. Watermelon Wa-ter-mel-on

States in the U.S. A.
Instructions: The U.S.A. has 50 states. Divide the name of each state into syllables.
1. Alabama _______________ 26. Montana _______________

2. Alaska _______________ 27. Nebraska _______________
3. Arizona _______________ 28. Nevada _______________
4. Arkansas _______________ 29. New Hampshire _______________
5. California _______________ 30. New Jersey _______________
6. Colorado _______________ 31. New Mexico _______________
7. Connecticut _______________ 32. New York _______________
8. Delaware _______________ 33. North Carolina _______________
9. Florida _______________ 34. North Dakota _______________
10. Georgia _______________ 35. Ohio _______________
11. Hawaii _______________ 36. Oklahoma _______________
12. Idaho _______________ 37. Oregon _______________
13. Illinois _______________ 38. Pennsylvania _______________
14. Indiana _______________ 39. Rhode Island _______________
15. Iowa _______________ 40. South Carolina _______________
16. Kansas _______________ 41. South Dakota _______________
17. Kentucky _______________ 42. Tennessee _______________
18. Louisiana _______________ 43. Texas _______________
19. Maine _______________ 44. Utah _______________
20. Maryland _______________ 45. Vermont _______________
21. Massachusetts _______________ 46. Virginia _______________
22. Michigan _______________ 47. Washington _______________
23. Minnesota _______________ 48. West Virginia _______________
24. Mississippi _______________ 49. Wisconsin _______________
25. Missouri _______________ 50. Wyoming _______________

States in the U.S. A.
Syllabication Answer Key
1. Alabama Al-a-bam-a 26. Montana Mon-tan-a
2. Alaska A-las-ka 27. Nebraska Ne-bras-ka
3. Arizona Ar-i-zo-na 28. Nevada Ne-vad-a
4. Arkansas Ar-kan-sas 29. New Hampshire New Hamp-shire
5. California Cal-i-for-nia 30. New Jersey New Jer-sey
6. Colorado Col-o-rad-o 31. New Mexico New Mex-i-co
7. Connecticut Con-nect-i-cut 32. New York New York
8. Delaware Del-a-ware 33. North Carolina North Car-o-li-na
9. Florida Flor-i-da 34. North Dakota North Da-ko-ta
10. Georgia Geor-gia 35. Ohio O-hi-o
11. Hawaii Ha-wai-i 36. Oklahoma O-kla-ho-ma
12. Idaho I-da-ho 37. Oregon Or-e-gon
13. Illinois Il-li-nois 38. Pennsylvania Penn-syl-va-nia
14. Indiana In-di-an-a 39. Rhode Island Rhode Is-land
15. Iowa I-o-wa 40. South Carolina South Car-o-li-na
16. Kansas Kan-sas 41. South Dakota South Da-ko-ta
17. Kentucky Ken-tuck-y 42. Tennessee Ten-nes-see
18. Louisiana Lou-i-si-an-a 43. Texas Tex-as
19. Maine Maine 44. Utah U-tah
20. Maryland Mar-y-land 45. Vermont Ver-mont
21. Massachusetts Mas-sa-chu-setts 46. Virginia Vir-gin-ia
22. Michigan Mich-i-gan 47. Washington Wash-ing-ton
23. Minnesota Min-ne-so-ta 48. West Virginia West Vir-gin-ia
24. Mississippi Mis-sis-sip-pi 49. Wisconsin Wis-con-sin
25. Missouri Mis-sour-i 50. Wyoming Wy-o-ming

Three Syllable Words
Instructions: Divide each word into syllables.
1. Alaska _______________ 16. New Hampshire _______________
2. Arkansas _______________ 17. New Jersey _______________
3. Delaware _______________ 18. Ohio _______________
4. Florida _______________ 19. Oregon _______________
5. Hawaii _______________ 20. Rhode Island _______________
6. Idaho _______________ 21. Tennessee _______________
7. Illinois _______________ 22. Virginia _______________
8. Iowa _______________ 23. Washington _______________
9. Kentucky _______________ 24. Wisconsin _______________
10. Maryland _______________ 25. Wyoming _______________
11. Michigan _______________ 26. Syllables _______________
12. Missouri _______________ 27. Creator _______________
13. Montana _______________ 28. Eleven _______________
14. Nebraska _______________ 29. Seventeen _______________
15. Nevada _______________ 30. Character _______________

Three Syllable Words
Syllabication Answer Key
1. Alaska A-las-ka 31. New Hampshire New Hamp-shire
2. Arkansas Ar-kan-sas 32. New Jersey New Jer-sey
3. Delaware Del-a-ware 33. Ohio O-hi-o
4. Florida Flor-i-da 34. Oregon Or-e-gon
5. Hawaii Ha-wai-i 35. Rhode Island Rhode Is-land
6. Idaho I-da-ho 36. Tennessee Ten-nes-see
7. Illinois Il-li-nois 37. Virginia Vir-gin-ia
8. Iowa I-o-wa 38. Washington Wash-ing-ton
9. Kentucky Ken-tuck-y 39. Wisconsin Wis-con-sin
10. Maryland Mar-y-land 40. Wyoming Wy-o-ming
11. Michigan Mich-i-gan 41. Syllables Syl-la-ble
12. Missouri Mis-sour-i 42. Creator Cre-a-tor
13. Montana Mon-tan-a 43. Eleven E-lev-en
14. Nebraska Ne-bras-ka 44. Seventeen Sev-en-teen
15. Nevada Ne-vad-a 45. Character Char-ac-ter


Syllable Rules

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Syllable Rules

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What is a syllable?

“Y” is a vowel only if it creates an A, E, I, O, or U sound.

The number of times you hear the sound of a vowel

A silent vowels is not a syllable.

How Many Syllables™

3. The “Clap Method” 4. The “Robot Speak Method”

b. Say the word. b. Say a word as this robot.

5. The “Written Method”

d. The number you get is the number of syllables in your word.

How Many Syllables™

2. Are two (or more) consonants next to each other?

3. Is the consonant surrounded by vowels?

4. Does the word end with ‘ckle’?

5. Does the word end with ‘le’ (not ‘ckle’)?

o Is the letter before the ‘le’ a vowel?

How Many Syllables™

Open, Closed, R-controlled, Vowel Team, Silent-e, and C-le.

• examples: ba-by, fe-male, i-vy, fro-zen, & Cu-pid

• If the word is only 2 letters, it must end with a consonant.

How Many Syllables™

o some ar vowels sound like the ar in “far”

o other ar vowels sound like the ar in “share”

o or vowels sound like the or in “for”

Vowel Team Syllable

• A vowel team can create a long or short vowel sound.

How Many Syllables™

• It's usually the last syllable in a root word.

• The vowel has a long sound (like the ‘i’ in line).

• examples: take, cake, theme, line, tone, tune, & ex-ile

• It's usually the last syllable in a root word.

• Does the word end with ‘ckle’?

• Does the word end with ‘le’ (not ‘ckle’)?

o Is the letter before the ‘le’ a consonant?

o Is the letter before the ‘le’ a vowel?

How Many Syllables™

1. Separate prefixes and suffixes from root words.

2. Write a V on top of every vowel.

3. Write a C on top of every consonant.

4. Use the V (vowel) & C (consonant) patterns below.

VC/CV and VC/CCV

Divide between the 1st and 2nd consonants.

V/CV and VC/V

How Many Syllables™

Does the word end with ‘ckle’?

Does the word end with ‘le’ (not ‘ckle’)?

 Divide 1 letter before the ‘le.’

o Is the letter before the ‘le’ a vowel?

How Many Syllables™

1. Apple _______________ 26. Kiwi _______________

How Many Syllables™

1. Apple Ap-ple 26. Kiwi Ki-wi

2. Asparagus As-par-a-gus 27. Lettuce Let-tuce

3. Avocado Av-o-ca-do 28. Mango Man-go

4. Banana Ba-nan-a 29. Mushroom Mush-room

5. Beet Beet 30. Nectarine Nec-tar-ine

6. Bell Pepper Bell Pep-per 31. Onion On-ion

7. Blueberry Blue-ber-ry 32. Orange Or-ange

8. Broccoli Broc-co-li 33. Papaya Pa-pa-ya

9. Cabbage Cab-bage 34. Pea Pea

10. Cantaloupe Can-ta-loupe 35. Peach Peach

11. Carrot Car-rot 36. Pear Pear

12. Cauliflower Cau-li-flow-er 37. Pineapple Pine-ap-ple

13. Celery Cel-er-y 38. Plum Plum

14. Cherry Cher-ry 39. Pomegranate Pom-eg-ran-ate

1. Apple _ 26. Kiwi _

1. Alabama _ 26. Montana _

1. Alaska _ 16. New Hampshire _

2. Arkansas _ 17. New Jersey _

3. Delaware _ 18. Ohio _

4. Florida _ 19. Oregon _

5. Hawaii _ 20. Rhode Island _

6. Idaho _ 21. Tennessee _

7. Illinois _ 22. Virginia _

8. Iowa _ 23. Washington _

9. Kentucky _ 24. Wisconsin _

10. Maryland _ 25. Wyoming _

11. Michigan _ 26. Syllables _

12. Missouri _ 27. Creator _

13. Montana _ 28. Eleven _

14. Nebraska _ 29. Seventeen _

15. Nevada _ 30. Character _