Syllable Rules >> Syllabification Examples
Syllable Division Rules
- Separate prefixes and suffixes from root words.
- examples: pre-view, work-ing, re-do, end-less, & out-ing
- Are two (or more) consonants next to each other?
- Divide between the 1st and 2nd consonants.
- examples: buf-fet, des-sert, ob-ject, ber-ry, & pil-grim
- 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
- Is the consonant surrounded by vowels?
- 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
- 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
- Does the word end with 'ckle'?
- Divide right before the 'le.'
- examples: tack-le, freck-le, tick-le, & buck-le
- Does the word end with 'le' (not 'ckle')?
- Is the letter before the 'le' a consonant?
- Divide 1 letter before the 'le.'
- examples: ap-ple, rum-ble, fa-ble, & ta-ble
- Is the letter before the 'le' a vowel?
- Do nothing.
- examples: ale, scale, sale, file, & tile
Fun FactLOL became an official word
in the dictionary in 2011.
Syllable Rules >> Counting Syllables Examples
Examples
- little: lit - tle
- petal: pet - al
- turtle: tur - tle
- ankle: an - kle
- riddle: rid - dle
- arrow: ar - row
- nickel: nick - el
- cotton: cot - ton
- student: stu - dent
- teacher: teach - er
- children: chil - dren
- pottery: pot - ter - y
- learning: learn - ing
- textbook: text - book
- watching: watch - ing
- screaming: scream - ing
- misbehaving: mis - be - hav - ing