How Many Syllables In Personnel?
3syllables
Personnel has 3 syllables, per-so-nnel. It is a trisyllabic word.
personnel
/ˌpɜː.sənˈel/ UK /ˌpɝː.sənˈel/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, nnel.
Syllable Structure
CV/CVC/VC
Division By Sound
/pɜː.sən.el/
Division By Letters
per-so-nnel
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Personnel
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 secondary stress | p | ɜː | – | CV | open |
| 2 | s | ə | n | CVC | closed |
| 3 primary stress | – | e | l | VC | closed |
Why Personnel 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.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in personnel?
Personnel has 3 syllables, per-so-nnel. In British English it is transcribed /ˌpɜː.sənˈel/.
Which syllable is stressed in personnel?
The third syllable, nnel, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of personnel?
Personnel has the structure CV/CVC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide personnel into syllables?
By sound, pɜː.sən.el. By letters, as a spelling guide, per-so-nnel.