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