How Many Syllables In Gentleness?
3syllables
Gentleness has 3 syllables, gent-le-ness. It is a trisyllabic word.
gentleness
/ˈdʒen.təl.nəs/ UK /ˈdʒen.t̬əl.nəs/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, gent.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC/CVC
Division By Sound
/dʒen.təl.nəs/
Division By Letters
gent-le-ness
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Gentleness
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 | dʒ | e | n | CVC | closed |
| 2 | t | ə | l | CVC | closed |
| 3 | n | ə | s | CVC | closed |
Why Gentleness Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /n/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈdʒen.təl.nəs/ | /ˈdʒen.t̬əl.nəs/ | 3 |
| Also | /ˈdʒen.təl.nɪs/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in gentleness?
Gentleness has 3 syllables, gent-le-ness. In British English it is transcribed /ˈdʒen.təl.nəs/.
Which syllable is stressed in gentleness?
The first syllable, gent, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of gentleness?
Gentleness has the structure CVC/CVC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide gentleness into syllables?
By sound, dʒen.təl.nəs. By letters, as a spelling guide, gent-le-ness.