How Many Syllables In Mother-in-law?
4syllables
Mother-in-law has 4 syllables, moth-er-in-law. It is a polysyllabic word.
motherinlaw
/ˈmʌð.ə.ɪn.lɔː/ UK /ˈmʌð.ɚ.ɪn.lɔː/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, moth.
Syllable Structure
CVC/V/VC/CV
Division By Sound
/mʌð.ə.ɪn.lɔː/
Division By Letters
moth-er-in-law
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Mother-in-law
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 | ʌ | ð | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ə | – | V | open |
| 3 | – | ɪ | n | VC | closed |
| 4 | l | ɔː | – | CV | open |
Why Mother-in-law Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ʌ/, so it keeps a coda /ð/.
- Two vowels meet between syllables 2 and 3, so syllable 3 has no onset.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /l/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in mother-in-law?
Mother-in-law has 4 syllables, moth-er-in-law. In British English it is transcribed /ˈmʌð.ə.ɪn.lɔː/.
Which syllable is stressed in mother-in-law?
The first syllable, moth, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of mother-in-law?
Mother-in-law has the structure CVC/V/VC/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide mother-in-law into syllables?
By sound, mʌð.ə.ɪn.lɔː. By letters, as a spelling guide, moth-er-in-law.