How Many Syllables In Brazilian?
4syllables
Brazilian has 4 syllables, bra-zil-i-an. It is a polysyllabic word.
brazilian
/brəˈzɪl.i.ən/ UK /brəˈzɪl.jən/ US
Brazilian can also be said with 3 syllables (UK /brəˈzɪl.jən/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, zil.
Syllable Structure
CCV/CVC/V/VC
Division By Sound
/brə.zɪl.i.ən/
Division By Letters
bra-zil-i-an
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Brazilian
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | br | ə | – | CCV | open |
| 2 primary stress | z | ɪ | l | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | i | – | V | open |
| 4 | – | ə | n | VC | closed |
Why Brazilian Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /z/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /l/.
- Two vowels meet between syllables 3 and 4, so syllable 4 has no onset.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /brəˈzɪl.i.ən/ | /brəˈzɪl.jən/ | 4 |
| Also | /brəˈzɪl.jən/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in Brazilian?
Brazilian has 4 syllables, bra-zil-i-an. In British English it is transcribed /brəˈzɪl.i.ən/.
Which syllable is stressed in Brazilian?
The second syllable, zil, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of Brazilian?
Brazilian has the structure CCV/CVC/V/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide Brazilian into syllables?
By sound, brə.zɪl.i.ən. By letters, as a spelling guide, bra-zil-i-an.