How Many Syllables In Selfishness?
3syllables
Selfishness has 3 syllables, sel-fish-ness. It is a trisyllabic word.
selfishness
/ˈsel.fɪʃ.nəs/ UK /ˈsel.fɪʃ.nəs/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, sel.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC/CVC
Division By Sound
/sel.fɪʃ.nəs/
Division By Letters
sel-fish-ness
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Selfishness
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 primary stress | s | e | l | CVC | closed |
| 2 | f | ɪ | ʃ | CVC | closed |
| 3 | n | ə | s | CVC | closed |
Why Selfishness Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /l/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /n/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈsel.fɪʃ.nəs/ | /ˈsel.fɪʃ.nəs/ | 3 |
| Also | /ˈsel.fɪʃ.nɪs/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in selfishness?
Selfishness has 3 syllables, sel-fish-ness. In British English it is transcribed /ˈsel.fɪʃ.nəs/.
Which syllable is stressed in selfishness?
The first syllable, sel, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of selfishness?
Selfishness has the structure CVC/CVC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide selfishness into syllables?
By sound, sel.fɪʃ.nəs. By letters, as a spelling guide, sel-fish-ness.