How Many Syllables In Arsenic?
3syllables
Arsenic has 3 syllables, ar-sen-ic. It is a trisyllabic word.
arsenic
/ˈɑː.sən.ɪk/ UK /ˈɑːr.sən.ɪk/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, ar.
Syllable Structure
V/CVC/VC
Division By Sound
/ɑː.sən.ɪk/
Division By Letters
ar-sen-ic
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Arsenic
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 | – | ɑː | – | V | open |
| 2 | s | ə | n | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ɪ | k | VC | closed |
Why Arsenic Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /s/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 ends in /n/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in arsenic?
Arsenic has 3 syllables, ar-sen-ic. In British English it is transcribed /ˈɑː.sən.ɪk/.
Which syllable is stressed in arsenic?
The first syllable, ar, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of arsenic?
Arsenic has the structure V/CVC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide arsenic into syllables?
By sound, ɑː.sən.ɪk. By letters, as a spelling guide, ar-sen-ic.