Syllable Rules   >>   Counting Syllables    Examples

5 Ways to Count Syllables

(Syllable Rules Below)

1. The "Listen Method" Rules
1. Say the word.
2. How many times do you hear A, E, I, O, or U as a separate sound?
3. This is the number of syllables.
2. The "Chin Method" Rules
1. Put your hand under your chin.
2. Say the word.
3. How many times does your chin touch your hand?
4. This is the number of syllables.
3. The "Clap Method" Rules
1. Clapping may help you find syllables.
2. Say the word.
3. Clap each time you hear A, E, I, O, or U as a separate sound.
4. The number of claps is the number of syllables.
4. The "Robot Speak Method" Rules
1. Make believe you are a robot from the year 2000.
2. Say a word as this robot.
3. Pay attention to the pauses you make.
4. How many parts did you break your word into?
Example:
• robot = "ro"  *pause*  "bot"... 2 syllables
• Listen:   robot sound
5. This is the number of syllables.
5. The "Written Method" Rules
1. Count the number of vowels (A, E, I, O, U) in the word.
• Add 1 every time the letter 'y' makes the sound of a vowel (A, E, I, O, U).
• Subtract 1 for each silent vowel (like the silent 'e' at the end of a word).
2. Subtract 1 for each diphthong or triphthong in the word.
• Diphthong: when 2 vowels make only 1 sound (au, oy, oo)
• Triphthong: when 3 vowels make only 1 sound (iou)
3. Does the word end with "le" or "les?" Add 1 only if the letter before the "le" is a consonant.
4. The number you get is the number of syllables in your word.