How Many Syllables In Ourselves?
2syllables
Ourselves has 2 syllables, oursel-ves. It is a disyllabic word.
ourselves
/aʊəˈselvz/ UK /aʊrˈselvz/ US
Ourselves can also be said with 3 syllables (UK /aʊ.əˈselvz/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, ves.
Syllable Structure
V/CVCCC
Division By Sound
/aʊə.selvz/
Division By Letters
oursel-ves
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Ourselves
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | aʊə | – | V | open |
| 2 primary stress | s | e | lvz | CVCCC | closed |
Why Ourselves Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /s/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /aʊəˈselvz/ | /aʊrˈselvz/ | 2 |
| Also | /ɑːˈselvz/ | 2 | |
| Also | /aʊ.əˈselvz/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in ourselves?
Ourselves has 2 syllables, oursel-ves. In British English it is transcribed /aʊəˈselvz/.
Which syllable is stressed in ourselves?
The second syllable, ves, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of ourselves?
Ourselves has the structure V/CVCCC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide ourselves into syllables?
By sound, aʊə.selvz. By letters, as a spelling guide, oursel-ves.