How Many Syllables In Afternoon?
3syllables
Afternoon has 3 syllables, af-ter-noon. It is a trisyllabic word.
afternoon
/ˌɑːf.təˈnuːn/ UK /ˌæf.tɚˈnuːn/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, noon.
Syllable Structure
VC/CV/CVC
Division By Sound
/ɑːf.tə.nuːn/
Division By Letters
af-ter-noon
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Afternoon
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 | – | ɑː | f | VC | closed |
| 2 | t | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 primary stress | n | uː | n | CVC | closed |
Why Afternoon Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /n/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in afternoon?
Afternoon has 3 syllables, af-ter-noon. In British English it is transcribed /ˌɑːf.təˈnuːn/.
Which syllable is stressed in afternoon?
The third syllable, noon, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of afternoon?
Afternoon has the structure VC/CV/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide afternoon into syllables?
By sound, ɑːf.tə.nuːn. By letters, as a spelling guide, af-ter-noon.