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