How Many Syllables In Lateral?
3syllables
Lateral has 3 syllables, lat-er-al. It is a trisyllabic word.
lateral
/ˈlæt.ər.əl/ UK /ˈlæt.ə.rəl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, lat.
Syllable Structure
CVC/VC/VC
Division By Sound
/læt.ər.əl/
Division By Letters
lat-er-al
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Lateral
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 | l | æ | t | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ə | r | VC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | l | VC | closed |
Why Lateral Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /æ/, so it keeps a coda /t/.
- Syllable 2 ends in /r/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in lateral?
Lateral has 3 syllables, lat-er-al. In British English it is transcribed /ˈlæt.ər.əl/.
Which syllable is stressed in lateral?
The first syllable, lat, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of lateral?
Lateral has the structure CVC/VC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide lateral into syllables?
By sound, læt.ər.əl. By letters, as a spelling guide, lat-er-al.