How Many Syllables In Superpower?
4syllables
Superpower has 4 syllables, su-per-pow-er. It is a polysyllabic word.
superpower
/ˌsuː.pəˈpaʊ.ə/ UK /ˌsuː.pɚˈpaʊ.ɚ/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, pow.
Syllable Structure
CV/CV/CV/V
Division By Sound
/suː.pə.paʊ.ə/
Division By Letters
su-per-pow-er
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Superpower
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 secondary stress | s | uː | – | CV | open |
| 2 | p | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 primary stress | p | aʊ | – | CV | open |
| 4 | – | ə | – | V | open |
Why Superpower Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /p/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /p/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Two vowels meet between syllables 3 and 4, so syllable 4 has no onset.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˌsuː.pəˈpaʊ.ə/ | /ˌsuː.pɚˈpaʊ.ɚ/ | 4 |
| Also | /ˌsjuː.pəˈpaʊ.ə/ | 4 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in superpower?
Superpower has 4 syllables, su-per-pow-er. In British English it is transcribed /ˌsuː.pəˈpaʊ.ə/.
Which syllable is stressed in superpower?
The third syllable, pow, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of superpower?
Superpower has the structure CV/CV/CV/V, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide superpower into syllables?
By sound, suː.pə.paʊ.ə. By letters, as a spelling guide, su-per-pow-er.
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