How Many Syllables In International?
5syllables
International has 5 syllables, in-ter-nat-ion-al. It is a polysyllabic word.
international
/ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.ən.əl/ UK /ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈnæʃ.ən.əl/ US
International can also be said with 4 syllables (UK /ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.nəl/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, nat.
Syllable Structure
VC/CV/CVC/VC/VC
Division By Sound
/ɪn.tə.næʃ.ən.əl/
Division By Letters
in-ter-nat-ion-al
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of International
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 secondary stress | – | ɪ | n | VC | closed |
| 2 | t | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 primary stress | n | æ | ʃ | CVC | closed |
| 4 | – | ə | n | VC | closed |
| 5 | – | ə | l | VC | closed |
Why International Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /n/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 3 is stressed and has the short vowel /æ/, so it keeps a coda /ʃ/.
- Syllable 4 ends in /n/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.ən.əl/ | /ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈnæʃ.ən.əl/ | 5 |
| Also | /ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.nəl/ | 4 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in international?
International has 5 syllables, in-ter-nat-ion-al. In British English it is transcribed /ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.ən.əl/.
Which syllable is stressed in international?
The third syllable, nat, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of international?
International has the structure VC/CV/CVC/VC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide international into syllables?
By sound, ɪn.tə.næʃ.ən.əl. By letters, as a spelling guide, in-ter-nat-ion-al.
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