How Many Syllables In Motherless?
3syllables
Motherless has 3 syllables, moth-er-less. It is a trisyllabic word.
motherless
/ˈmʌð.ə.ləs/ UK /ˈmʌð.ɚ.ləs/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, moth.
Syllable Structure
CVC/V/CVC
Division By Sound
/mʌð.ə.ləs/
Division By Letters
moth-er-less
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Motherless
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 | l | ə | s | CVC | closed |
Why Motherless Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ʌ/, so it keeps a coda /ð/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /l/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈmʌð.ə.ləs/ | /ˈmʌð.ɚ.ləs/ | 3 |
| Also | /ˈmʌð.ə.lɪs/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in motherless?
Motherless has 3 syllables, moth-er-less. In British English it is transcribed /ˈmʌð.ə.ləs/.
Which syllable is stressed in motherless?
The first syllable, moth, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of motherless?
Motherless has the structure CVC/V/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide motherless into syllables?
By sound, mʌð.ə.ləs. By letters, as a spelling guide, moth-er-less.