How Many Syllables In Unselfish?
3syllables
Unselfish has 3 syllables, un-sel-fish. It is a trisyllabic word.
unselfish
/ʌnˈsel.fɪʃ/ UK /ʌnˈsel.fɪʃ/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, sel.
Syllable Structure
VC/CVC/CVC
Division By Sound
/ʌn.sel.fɪʃ/
Division By Letters
un-sel-fish
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Unselfish
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 | s | e | l | CVC | closed |
| 3 | f | ɪ | ʃ | CVC | closed |
Why Unselfish Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /s/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /l/.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in unselfish?
Unselfish has 3 syllables, un-sel-fish. In British English it is transcribed /ʌnˈsel.fɪʃ/.
Which syllable is stressed in unselfish?
The second syllable, sel, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of unselfish?
Unselfish has the structure VC/CVC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide unselfish into syllables?
By sound, ʌn.sel.fɪʃ. By letters, as a spelling guide, un-sel-fish.