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