How Many Syllables In Pencil?
2syllables
Pencil has 2 syllables, pen-cil. It is a disyllabic word.
pencil
/ˈpen.səl/ UK /ˈpen.səl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, pen.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC
Division By Sound
/pen.səl/
Division By Letters
pen-cil
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Pencil
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 | n | CVC | closed |
| 2 | s | ə | l | CVC | closed |
Why Pencil Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in pencil?
Pencil has 2 syllables, pen-cil. In British English it is transcribed /ˈpen.səl/.
Which syllable is stressed in pencil?
The first syllable, pen, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of pencil?
Pencil has the structure CVC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide pencil into syllables?
By sound, pen.səl. By letters, as a spelling guide, pen-cil.