How Many Syllables In Personally?
4syllables
Personally has 4 syllables, per-son-a-lly. It is a polysyllabic word.
personally
/ˈpɜː.sən.əl.i/ UK /ˈpɝː.sən.əl.i/ US
Personally can also be said with 3 syllables (UK /ˈpɜːs.nəl.i/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, per.
Syllable Structure
CV/CVC/VC/V
Division By Sound
/pɜː.sən.əl.i/
Division By Letters
per-son-a-lly
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Personally
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 | ɜː | – | CV | open |
| 2 | s | ə | n | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | l | VC | closed |
| 4 | – | i | – | V | open |
Why Personally Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /s/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 ends in /n/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
- Syllable 3 ends in /l/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈpɜː.sən.əl.i/ | /ˈpɝː.sən.əl.i/ | 4 |
| Also | /ˈpɜːs.nəl.i/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in personally?
Personally has 4 syllables, per-son-a-lly. In British English it is transcribed /ˈpɜː.sən.əl.i/.
Which syllable is stressed in personally?
The first syllable, per, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of personally?
Personally has the structure CV/CVC/VC/V, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide personally into syllables?
By sound, pɜː.sən.əl.i. By letters, as a spelling guide, per-son-a-lly.