How Many Syllables In Litotes?
3syllables
Litotes has 3 syllables, li-to-tes. It is a trisyllabic word.
litotes
/laɪˈtəʊ.tiːz/ UK /laɪˈtoʊ.t̬iːz/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, to.
Syllable Structure
CV/CV/CVC
Division By Sound
/laɪ.təʊ.tiːz/
Division By Letters
li-to-tes
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Litotes
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | l | aɪ | – | CV | open |
| 2 primary stress | t | əʊ | – | CV | open |
| 3 | t | iː | z | CVC | closed |
Why Litotes Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in litotes?
Litotes has 3 syllables, li-to-tes. In British English it is transcribed /laɪˈtəʊ.tiːz/.
Which syllable is stressed in litotes?
The second syllable, to, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of litotes?
Litotes has the structure CV/CV/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide litotes into syllables?
By sound, laɪ.təʊ.tiːz. By letters, as a spelling guide, li-to-tes.