How Many Syllables In African?
3syllables
African has 3 syllables, af-ri-can. It is a trisyllabic word.
african
/ˈæf.rɪ.kən/ UK /ˈæf.rɪ.kən/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, af.
Syllable Structure
VC/CV/CVC
Division By Sound
/æf.rɪ.kən/
Division By Letters
af-ri-can
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of African
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 primary stress | – | æ | f | VC | closed |
| 2 | r | ɪ | – | CV | open |
| 3 | k | ə | n | CVC | closed |
Why African Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /æ/, so it keeps a coda /f/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /k/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in African?
African has 3 syllables, af-ri-can. In British English it is transcribed /ˈæf.rɪ.kən/.
Which syllable is stressed in African?
The first syllable, af, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of African?
African has the structure VC/CV/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide African into syllables?
By sound, æf.rɪ.kən. By letters, as a spelling guide, af-ri-can.