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