How Many Syllables In Wilderness?
3syllables
Wilderness has 3 syllables, wil-der-ness. It is a trisyllabic word.
wilderness
/ˈwɪl.də.nəs/ UK /ˈwɪl.dɚ.nəs/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, wil.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CV/CVC
Division By Sound
/wɪl.də.nəs/
Division By Letters
wil-der-ness
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Wilderness
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 | w | ɪ | l | CVC | closed |
| 2 | d | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 | n | ə | s | CVC | closed |
Why Wilderness Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /l/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /n/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈwɪl.də.nəs/ | /ˈwɪl.dɚ.nəs/ | 3 |
| Also | /ˈwɪl.də.nɪs/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in wilderness?
Wilderness has 3 syllables, wil-der-ness. In British English it is transcribed /ˈwɪl.də.nəs/.
Which syllable is stressed in wilderness?
The first syllable, wil, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of wilderness?
Wilderness has the structure CVC/CV/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide wilderness into syllables?
By sound, wɪl.də.nəs. By letters, as a spelling guide, wil-der-ness.