How Many Syllables In Impossibly?
4syllables
Impossibly has 4 syllables, im-poss-i-bly. It is a polysyllabic word.
impossibly
/ɪmˈpɒs.ə.bli/ UK /ɪmˈpɑː.sə.bli/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, poss.
Syllable Structure
VC/CVC/V/CCV
Division By Sound
/ɪm.pɒs.ə.bli/
Division By Letters
im-poss-i-bly
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Impossibly
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | ɪ | m | VC | closed |
| 2 primary stress | p | ɒ | s | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | – | V | open |
| 4 | bl | i | – | CCV | open |
Why Impossibly Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /p/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɒ/, so it keeps a coda /s/.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /bl/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in impossibly?
Impossibly has 4 syllables, im-poss-i-bly. In British English it is transcribed /ɪmˈpɒs.ə.bli/.
Which syllable is stressed in impossibly?
The second syllable, poss, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of impossibly?
Impossibly has the structure VC/CVC/V/CCV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide impossibly into syllables?
By sound, ɪm.pɒs.ə.bli. By letters, as a spelling guide, im-poss-i-bly.