How Many Syllables In Postgraduate?
4syllables
Postgraduate has 4 syllables, post-grad-u-ate. It is a polysyllabic word.
postgraduate
/ˌpəʊstˈɡrædʒ.u.ət/ UK /ˌpoʊstˈɡrædʒ.u.ət/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, grad.
Syllable Structure
CVCC/CCVC/V/VC
Division By Sound
/pəʊst.ɡrædʒ.u.ət/
Division By Letters
post-grad-u-ate
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Postgraduate
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 | əʊ | st | CVCC | closed |
| 2 primary stress | ɡr | æ | dʒ | CCVC | closed |
| 3 | – | u | – | V | open |
| 4 | – | ə | t | VC | closed |
Why Postgraduate Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /ɡr/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /æ/, so it keeps a coda /dʒ/.
- Two vowels meet between syllables 3 and 4, so syllable 4 has no onset.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in postgraduate?
Postgraduate has 4 syllables, post-grad-u-ate. In British English it is transcribed /ˌpəʊstˈɡrædʒ.u.ət/.
Which syllable is stressed in postgraduate?
The second syllable, grad, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of postgraduate?
Postgraduate has the structure CVCC/CCVC/V/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide postgraduate into syllables?
By sound, pəʊst.ɡrædʒ.u.ət. By letters, as a spelling guide, post-grad-u-ate.
Other Words With Four Syllables
religiouslysupervisorvigorouslyappetisercomplicateddislocationfluctuationindependentliberationobjectively