How Many Syllables In Literature?
3syllables
Literature has 3 syllables, lite-ra-ture. It is a trisyllabic word.
literature
/ˈlɪt.rə.tʃə/ UK /ˈlɪt.ɚ.ə.tʃɚ/ US
Literature can also be said with 4 syllables (US /ˈlɪt.ɚ.ə.tʃɚ/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, lite.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CV/CV
Division By Sound
/lɪt.rə.tʃə/
Division By Letters
lite-ra-ture
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Literature
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 | ɪ | t | CVC | closed |
| 2 | r | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 | tʃ | ə | – | CV | open |
Why Literature Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /t/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /tʃ/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in literature?
Literature has 3 syllables, lite-ra-ture. In British English it is transcribed /ˈlɪt.rə.tʃə/.
Which syllable is stressed in literature?
The first syllable, lite, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of literature?
Literature has the structure CVC/CV/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide literature into syllables?
By sound, lɪt.rə.tʃə. By letters, as a spelling guide, lite-ra-ture.