How Many Syllables In Vulnerable?
4syllables
Vulnerable has 4 syllables, vul-ner-a-ble. It is a polysyllabic word.
vulnerable
/ˈvʌl.nər.ə.bəl/ UK /ˈvʌl.nɚ.ə.bəl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, vul.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC/V/CVC
Division By Sound
/vʌl.nər.ə.bəl/
Division By Letters
vul-ner-a-ble
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Vulnerable
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 | ʌ | l | CVC | closed |
| 2 | n | ə | r | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | – | V | open |
| 4 | b | ə | l | CVC | closed |
Why Vulnerable Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ʌ/, so it keeps a coda /l/.
- Syllable 2 ends in /r/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /b/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in vulnerable?
Vulnerable has 4 syllables, vul-ner-a-ble. In British English it is transcribed /ˈvʌl.nər.ə.bəl/.
Which syllable is stressed in vulnerable?
The first syllable, vul, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of vulnerable?
Vulnerable has the structure CVC/CVC/V/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide vulnerable into syllables?
By sound, vʌl.nər.ə.bəl. By letters, as a spelling guide, vul-ner-a-ble.