How Many Syllables In Unfortunately?

5syllables

Unfortunately has 5 syllables, un-for-tunat-e-ly. It is a polysyllabic word.

unfortunately

/ʌnˈfɔː.tʃən.ət.li/ UK /ʌnˈfɔːr.tʃən.ət.li/ US

Unfortunately can also be said with 4 syllables (UK /ʌnˈfɔː.tʃnət.li/).

Stress

The main stress falls on the second syllable, for.

Syllable Structure

VC/CV/CVC/VC/CV

Division By Sound

/ʌn.fɔː.tʃən.ət.li/

Division By Letters

un-for-tunat-e-ly

A spelling guide that follows the sound division.

Tree Diagram Of Unfortunately

S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.

Syllable	Onset	Peak	Coda	Pattern	Type
1	–	ʌ	n	VC	closed
2 primary stress	f	ɔː	–	CV	open
3	tʃ	ə	n	CVC	closed
4	–	ə	t	VC	closed
5	l	i	–	CV	open

Between syllables 1 and 2, /f/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Between syllables 2 and 3, /tʃ/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Syllable 3 ends in /n/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Between syllables 4 and 5, /l/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.

Form	UK	US	Syllables
Main	/ʌnˈfɔː.tʃən.ət.li/	/ʌnˈfɔːr.tʃən.ət.li/	5
Also	/ʌnˈfɔː.tʃnət.li/		4

How many syllables are in unfortunately?

Unfortunately has 5 syllables, un-for-tunat-e-ly. In British English it is transcribed /ʌnˈfɔː.tʃən.ət.li/.

Which syllable is stressed in unfortunately?

The second syllable, for, carries the main stress.

What is the syllable structure of unfortunately?

Unfortunately has the structure VC/CV/CVC/VC/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.

How do you divide unfortunately into syllables?

By sound, ʌn.fɔː.tʃən.ət.li. By letters, as a spelling guide, un-for-tunat-e-ly.