How Many Syllables In Ultrasound?
3syllables
Ultrasound has 3 syllables, ul-tra-sound. It is a trisyllabic word.
ultrasound
/ˌʌl.trəˈsaʊnd/ UK /ˌʌl.trəˈsaʊnd/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, sound.
Syllable Structure
VC/CCV/CVCC
Division By Sound
/ʌl.trə.saʊnd/
Division By Letters
ul-tra-sound
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Ultrasound
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 | – | ʌ | l | VC | closed |
| 2 | tr | ə | – | CCV | open |
| 3 primary stress | s | aʊ | nd | CVCC | closed |
Why Ultrasound Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ʌ/, so it keeps a coda /l/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /s/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in ultrasound?
Ultrasound has 3 syllables, ul-tra-sound. In British English it is transcribed /ˌʌl.trəˈsaʊnd/.
Which syllable is stressed in ultrasound?
The third syllable, sound, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of ultrasound?
Ultrasound has the structure VC/CCV/CVCC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide ultrasound into syllables?
By sound, ʌl.trə.saʊnd. By letters, as a spelling guide, ul-tra-sound.