How Many Syllables In Professional?
4syllables
Professional has 4 syllables, pro-fess-ion-al. It is a polysyllabic word.
professional
/prəˈfeʃ.ən.əl/ UK /prəˈfeʃ.ən.əl/ US
Professional can also be said with 3 syllables (UK /prəˈfeʃ.nəl/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, fess.
Syllable Structure
CCV/CVC/VC/VC
Division By Sound
/prə.feʃ.ən.əl/
Division By Letters
pro-fess-ion-al
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Professional
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | pr | ə | – | CCV | open |
| 2 primary stress | f | e | ʃ | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | n | VC | closed |
| 4 | – | ə | l | VC | closed |
Why Professional Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /f/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /ʃ/.
- Syllable 3 ends in /n/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /prəˈfeʃ.ən.əl/ | /prəˈfeʃ.ən.əl/ | 4 |
| Also | /prəˈfeʃ.nəl/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in professional?
Professional has 4 syllables, pro-fess-ion-al. In British English it is transcribed /prəˈfeʃ.ən.əl/.
Which syllable is stressed in professional?
The second syllable, fess, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of professional?
Professional has the structure CCV/CVC/VC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide professional into syllables?
By sound, prə.feʃ.ən.əl. By letters, as a spelling guide, pro-fess-ion-al.