How Many Syllables In Sickness?
2syllables
Sickness has 2 syllables, sick-ness. It is a disyllabic word.
sickness
/ˈsɪk.nəs/ UK /ˈsɪk.nəs/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, sick.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC
Division By Sound
/sɪk.nəs/
Division By Letters
sick-ness
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Sickness
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 | ɪ | k | CVC | closed |
| 2 | n | ə | s | CVC | closed |
Why Sickness Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /k/.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈsɪk.nəs/ | /ˈsɪk.nəs/ | 2 |
| Also | /ˈsɪk.nɪs/ | 2 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in sickness?
Sickness has 2 syllables, sick-ness. In British English it is transcribed /ˈsɪk.nəs/.
Which syllable is stressed in sickness?
The first syllable, sick, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of sickness?
Sickness has the structure CVC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide sickness into syllables?
By sound, sɪk.nəs. By letters, as a spelling guide, sick-ness.