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