How Many Syllables In Potentially?
4syllables
Potentially has 4 syllables, po-ten-tia-lly. It is a polysyllabic word.
potentially
/pəˈten.ʃə.li/ UK /pəˈten.ʃə.li/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, ten.
Syllable Structure
CV/CVC/CV/CV
Division By Sound
/pə.ten.ʃə.li/
Division By Letters
po-ten-tia-lly
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Potentially
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 | e | n | CVC | closed |
| 3 | ʃ | ə | – | CV | open |
| 4 | l | i | – | CV | open |
Why Potentially Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /l/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in potentially?
Potentially has 4 syllables, po-ten-tia-lly. In British English it is transcribed /pəˈten.ʃə.li/.
Which syllable is stressed in potentially?
The second syllable, ten, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of potentially?
Potentially has the structure CV/CVC/CV/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide potentially into syllables?
By sound, pə.ten.ʃə.li. By letters, as a spelling guide, po-ten-tia-lly.
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