How Many Syllables In American?
4syllables
American has 4 syllables, a-mer-i-can. It is a polysyllabic word.
american
/əˈmer.ɪ.kən/ UK /əˈmer.ə.kən/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, mer.
Syllable Structure
V/CVC/V/CVC
Division By Sound
/ə.mer.ɪ.kən/
Division By Letters
a-mer-i-can
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of American
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 | m | e | r | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ɪ | – | V | open |
| 4 | k | ə | n | CVC | closed |
Why American Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /m/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /r/.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /k/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in American?
American has 4 syllables, a-mer-i-can. In British English it is transcribed /əˈmer.ɪ.kən/.
Which syllable is stressed in American?
The second syllable, mer, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of American?
American has the structure V/CVC/V/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide American into syllables?
By sound, ə.mer.ɪ.kən. By letters, as a spelling guide, a-mer-i-can.