How Many Syllables In Absentee?
3syllables
Absentee has 3 syllables, ab-sen-tee. It is a trisyllabic word.
absentee
/ˌæb.sənˈtiː/ UK /ˌæb.sənˈtiː/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, tee.
Syllable Structure
VC/CVC/CV
Division By Sound
/æb.sən.tiː/
Division By Letters
ab-sen-tee
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Absentee
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 secondary stress | – | æ | b | VC | closed |
| 2 | s | ə | n | CVC | closed |
| 3 primary stress | t | iː | – | CV | open |
Why Absentee Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /æ/, so it keeps a coda /b/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in absentee?
Absentee has 3 syllables, ab-sen-tee. In British English it is transcribed /ˌæb.sənˈtiː/.
Which syllable is stressed in absentee?
The third syllable, tee, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of absentee?
Absentee has the structure VC/CVC/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide absentee into syllables?
By sound, æb.sən.tiː. By letters, as a spelling guide, ab-sen-tee.