How Many Syllables In Son-in-law?
3syllables
Son-in-law has 3 syllables, son-in-law. It is a trisyllabic word.
soninlaw
/ˈsʌn.ɪn.lɔː/ UK /ˈsʌn.ɪn.lɔː/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, son.
Syllable Structure
CVC/VC/CV
Division By Sound
/sʌn.ɪn.lɔː/
Division By Letters
son-in-law
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Son-in-law
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 | ʌ | n | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ɪ | n | VC | closed |
| 3 | l | ɔː | – | CV | open |
Why Son-in-law Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ʌ/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /l/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in son-in-law?
Son-in-law has 3 syllables, son-in-law. In British English it is transcribed /ˈsʌn.ɪn.lɔː/.
Which syllable is stressed in son-in-law?
The first syllable, son, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of son-in-law?
Son-in-law has the structure CVC/VC/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide son-in-law into syllables?
By sound, sʌn.ɪn.lɔː. By letters, as a spelling guide, son-in-law.