How Many Syllables In Physician?
3syllables
Physician has 3 syllables, phy-sic-ian. It is a trisyllabic word.
physician
/fəˈzɪʃ.ən/ UK /fəˈzɪʃ.ən/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, sic.
Syllable Structure
CV/CVC/VC
Division By Sound
/fə.zɪʃ.ən/
Division By Letters
phy-sic-ian
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Physician
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | f | ə | – | CV | open |
| 2 primary stress | z | ɪ | ʃ | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | n | VC | closed |
Why Physician Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /z/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /ʃ/.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in physician?
Physician has 3 syllables, phy-sic-ian. In British English it is transcribed /fəˈzɪʃ.ən/.
Which syllable is stressed in physician?
The second syllable, sic, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of physician?
Physician has the structure CV/CVC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide physician into syllables?
By sound, fə.zɪʃ.ən. By letters, as a spelling guide, phy-sic-ian.