How Many Syllables In Menstruation?
4syllables
Menstruation has 4 syllables, men-stru-a-tion. It is a polysyllabic word.
menstruation
/ˌmen.struˈeɪ.ʃən/ UK /ˌmen.struˈeɪ.ʃən/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, a.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CCCV/V/CVC
Division By Sound
/men.stru.eɪ.ʃən/
Division By Letters
men-stru-a-tion
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Menstruation
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 | m | e | n | CVC | closed |
| 2 | str | u | – | CCCV | open |
| 3 primary stress | – | eɪ | – | V | open |
| 4 | ʃ | ə | n | CVC | closed |
Why Menstruation Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Two vowels meet between syllables 2 and 3, so syllable 3 has no onset.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /ʃ/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in menstruation?
Menstruation has 4 syllables, men-stru-a-tion. In British English it is transcribed /ˌmen.struˈeɪ.ʃən/.
Which syllable is stressed in menstruation?
The third syllable, a, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of menstruation?
Menstruation has the structure CVC/CCCV/V/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide menstruation into syllables?
By sound, men.stru.eɪ.ʃən. By letters, as a spelling guide, men-stru-a-tion.