How Many Syllables In Volleyball?
3syllables
Volleyball has 3 syllables, voll-ey-ball. It is a trisyllabic word.
volleyball
/ˈvɒl.i.bɔːl/ UK /ˈvɑː.li.bɔːl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, voll.
Syllable Structure
CVC/V/CVC
Division By Sound
/vɒl.i.bɔːl/
Division By Letters
voll-ey-ball
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Volleyball
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 | v | ɒ | l | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | i | – | V | open |
| 3 | b | ɔː | l | CVC | closed |
Why Volleyball Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɒ/, so it keeps a coda /l/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /b/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in volleyball?
Volleyball has 3 syllables, voll-ey-ball. In British English it is transcribed /ˈvɒl.i.bɔːl/.
Which syllable is stressed in volleyball?
The first syllable, voll, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of volleyball?
Volleyball has the structure CVC/V/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide volleyball into syllables?
By sound, vɒl.i.bɔːl. By letters, as a spelling guide, voll-ey-ball.