How Many Syllables In Cerebral?
3syllables
Cerebral has 3 syllables, cer-e-bral. It is a trisyllabic word.
cerebral
/ˈser.ə.brəl/ UK /ˈser.ə.brəl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, cer.
Syllable Structure
CVC/V/CCVC
Division By Sound
/ser.ə.brəl/
Division By Letters
cer-e-bral
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Cerebral
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 | s | e | r | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ə | – | V | open |
| 3 | br | ə | l | CCVC | closed |
Why Cerebral Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /r/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /br/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈser.ə.brəl/ | /ˈser.ə.brəl/ | 3 |
| Also | /səˈriː.brəl/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in cerebral?
Cerebral has 3 syllables, cer-e-bral. In British English it is transcribed /ˈser.ə.brəl/.
Which syllable is stressed in cerebral?
The first syllable, cer, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of cerebral?
Cerebral has the structure CVC/V/CCVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide cerebral into syllables?
By sound, ser.ə.brəl. By letters, as a spelling guide, cer-e-bral.