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