How Many Syllables In Despair?
2syllables
Despair has 2 syllables, de-spair. It is a disyllabic word.
despair
/dɪˈspeə/ UK /dɪˈsper/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, spair.
Syllable Structure
CV/CCV
Division By Sound
/dɪ.speə/
Division By Letters
de-spair
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Despair
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | d | ɪ | – | CV | open |
| 2 primary stress | sp | eə | – | CCV | open |
Why Despair Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /sp/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in despair?
Despair has 2 syllables, de-spair. In British English it is transcribed /dɪˈspeə/.
Which syllable is stressed in despair?
The second syllable, spair, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of despair?
Despair has the structure CV/CCV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide despair into syllables?
By sound, dɪ.speə. By letters, as a spelling guide, de-spair.