How Many Syllables In Mexican?
3syllables
Mexican has 3 syllables, mex-i-can. It is a trisyllabic word.
mexican
/ˈmek.sɪ.kən/ UK /ˈmek.sɪ.kən/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, mex.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CV/CVC
Division By Sound
/mek.sɪ.kən/
Division By Letters
mex-i-can
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Mexican
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 | m | e | k | CVC | closed |
| 2 | s | ɪ | – | CV | open |
| 3 | k | ə | n | CVC | closed |
Why Mexican Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /k/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /k/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in Mexican?
Mexican has 3 syllables, mex-i-can. In British English it is transcribed /ˈmek.sɪ.kən/.
Which syllable is stressed in Mexican?
The first syllable, mex, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of Mexican?
Mexican has the structure CVC/CV/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide Mexican into syllables?
By sound, mek.sɪ.kən. By letters, as a spelling guide, mex-i-can.