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