How Many Syllables In Potato?
3syllables
Potato has 3 syllables, po-ta-to. It is a trisyllabic word.
potato
/pəˈteɪ.təʊ/ UK /pəˈteɪ.t̬oʊ/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, ta.
Syllable Structure
CV/CV/CV
Division By Sound
/pə.teɪ.təʊ/
Division By Letters
po-ta-to
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Potato
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | p | ə | – | CV | open |
| 2 primary stress | t | eɪ | – | CV | open |
| 3 | t | əʊ | – | CV | open |
Why Potato Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in potato?
Potato has 3 syllables, po-ta-to. In British English it is transcribed /pəˈteɪ.təʊ/.
Which syllable is stressed in potato?
The second syllable, ta, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of potato?
Potato has the structure CV/CV/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide potato into syllables?
By sound, pə.teɪ.təʊ. By letters, as a spelling guide, po-ta-to.