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