How Many Syllables In Lawfully?
3syllables
Lawfully has 3 syllables, law-fu-lly. It is a trisyllabic word.
lawfully
/ˈlɔː.fəl.i/ UK /ˈlɔː.fə.li/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, law.
Syllable Structure
CV/CVC/V
Division By Sound
/lɔː.fəl.i/
Division By Letters
law-fu-lly
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Lawfully
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 | ɔː | – | CV | open |
| 2 | f | ə | l | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | i | – | V | open |
Why Lawfully Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /f/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 ends in /l/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in lawfully?
Lawfully has 3 syllables, law-fu-lly. In British English it is transcribed /ˈlɔː.fəl.i/.
Which syllable is stressed in lawfully?
The first syllable, law, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of lawfully?
Lawfully has the structure CV/CVC/V, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide lawfully into syllables?
By sound, lɔː.fəl.i. By letters, as a spelling guide, law-fu-lly.