How Many Syllables In Underwear?
3syllables
Underwear has 3 syllables, un-der-wear. It is a trisyllabic word.
underwear
/ˈʌn.də.weə/ UK /ˈʌn.dɚ.wer/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, un.
Syllable Structure
VC/CV/CV
Division By Sound
/ʌn.də.weə/
Division By Letters
un-der-wear
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Underwear
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 | – | ʌ | n | VC | closed |
| 2 | d | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 | w | eə | – | CV | open |
Why Underwear Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ʌ/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /w/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in underwear?
Underwear has 3 syllables, un-der-wear. In British English it is transcribed /ˈʌn.də.weə/.
Which syllable is stressed in underwear?
The first syllable, un, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of underwear?
Underwear has the structure VC/CV/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide underwear into syllables?
By sound, ʌn.də.weə. By letters, as a spelling guide, un-der-wear.