How Many Syllables In Liability?
5syllables
Liability has 5 syllables, li-a-bil-i-ty. It is a polysyllabic word.
liability
/ˌlaɪ.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/ UK /ˌlaɪ.əˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/ US
Liability can also be said with 4 syllables (UK /ˌlaɪəˈbɪl.ə.ti/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, bil.
Syllable Structure
CV/V/CVC/V/CV
Division By Sound
/laɪ.ə.bɪl.ə.ti/
Division By Letters
li-a-bil-i-ty
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Liability
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 | l | aɪ | – | CV | open |
| 2 | – | ə | – | V | open |
| 3 primary stress | b | ɪ | l | CVC | closed |
| 4 | – | ə | – | V | open |
| 5 | t | i | – | CV | open |
Why Liability Divides Here
- Two vowels meet between syllables 1 and 2, so syllable 2 has no onset.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /b/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 3 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /l/.
- Between syllables 4 and 5, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˌlaɪ.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/ | /ˌlaɪ.əˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/ | 5 |
| Also | /ˌlaɪəˈbɪl.ə.ti/ | 4 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in liability?
Liability has 5 syllables, li-a-bil-i-ty. In British English it is transcribed /ˌlaɪ.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/.
Which syllable is stressed in liability?
The third syllable, bil, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of liability?
Liability has the structure CV/V/CVC/V/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide liability into syllables?
By sound, laɪ.ə.bɪl.ə.ti. By letters, as a spelling guide, li-a-bil-i-ty.
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