How Many Syllables In Tentatively?
4syllables
Tentatively has 4 syllables, ten-tati-ve-ly. It is a polysyllabic word.
tentatively
/ˈten.tə.tɪv.li/ UK /ˈten.t̬ə.t̬ɪv.li/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, ten.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CV/CVC/CV
Division By Sound
/ten.tə.tɪv.li/
Division By Letters
ten-tati-ve-ly
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Tentatively
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 | t | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 | t | ɪ | v | CVC | closed |
| 4 | l | i | – | CV | open |
Why Tentatively Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /l/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in tentatively?
Tentatively has 4 syllables, ten-tati-ve-ly. In British English it is transcribed /ˈten.tə.tɪv.li/.
Which syllable is stressed in tentatively?
The first syllable, ten, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of tentatively?
Tentatively has the structure CVC/CV/CVC/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide tentatively into syllables?
By sound, ten.tə.tɪv.li. By letters, as a spelling guide, ten-tati-ve-ly.