How Many Syllables In Unlawfully?
4syllables
Unlawfully has 4 syllables, un-law-fu-lly. It is a polysyllabic word.
unlawfully
/ʌnˈlɔː.fəl.i/ UK /ʌnˈlɔː.fə.li/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, law.
Syllable Structure
VC/CV/CVC/V
Division By Sound
/ʌn.lɔː.fəl.i/
Division By Letters
un-law-fu-lly
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Unlawfully
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | ʌ | n | VC | closed |
| 2 primary stress | l | ɔː | – | CV | open |
| 3 | f | ə | l | CVC | closed |
| 4 | – | i | – | V | open |
Why Unlawfully Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /l/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /f/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 3 ends in /l/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in unlawfully?
Unlawfully has 4 syllables, un-law-fu-lly. In British English it is transcribed /ʌnˈlɔː.fəl.i/.
Which syllable is stressed in unlawfully?
The second syllable, law, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of unlawfully?
Unlawfully has the structure VC/CV/CVC/V, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide unlawfully into syllables?
By sound, ʌn.lɔː.fəl.i. By letters, as a spelling guide, un-law-fu-lly.
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