How Many Syllables In Tenderness?
3syllables
Tenderness has 3 syllables, ten-der-ness. It is a trisyllabic word.
tenderness
/ˈten.də.nəs/ UK /ˈten.dɚ.nəs/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, ten.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CV/CVC
Division By Sound
/ten.də.nəs/
Division By Letters
ten-der-ness
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Tenderness
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 | t | e | n | CVC | closed |
| 2 | d | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 | n | ə | s | CVC | closed |
Why Tenderness Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /n/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈten.də.nəs/ | /ˈten.dɚ.nəs/ | 3 |
| Also | /ˈten.də.nɪs/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in tenderness?
Tenderness has 3 syllables, ten-der-ness. In British English it is transcribed /ˈten.də.nəs/.
Which syllable is stressed in tenderness?
The first syllable, ten, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of tenderness?
Tenderness has the structure CVC/CV/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide tenderness into syllables?
By sound, ten.də.nəs. By letters, as a spelling guide, ten-der-ness.