How Many Syllables In Indefinitely?
5syllables
Indefinitely has 5 syllables, in-defin-i-te-ly. It is a polysyllabic word.
indefinitely
/ɪnˈdef.ə.nət.li/ UK /ɪnˈdef.ə.nət.li/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, defin.
Syllable Structure
VC/CVC/V/CVC/CV
Division By Sound
/ɪn.def.ə.nət.li/
Division By Letters
in-defin-i-te-ly
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Indefinitely
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 | n | VC | closed |
| 2 primary stress | d | e | f | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | – | V | open |
| 4 | n | ə | t | CVC | closed |
| 5 | l | i | – | CV | open |
Why Indefinitely Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /d/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /f/.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /n/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Between syllables 4 and 5, /l/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in indefinitely?
Indefinitely has 5 syllables, in-defin-i-te-ly. In British English it is transcribed /ɪnˈdef.ə.nət.li/.
Which syllable is stressed in indefinitely?
The second syllable, defin, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of indefinitely?
Indefinitely has the structure VC/CVC/V/CVC/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide indefinitely into syllables?
By sound, ɪn.def.ə.nət.li. By letters, as a spelling guide, in-defin-i-te-ly.
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