How Many Syllables In Witness?
2syllables
Witness has 2 syllables, wit-ness. It is a disyllabic word.
witness
/ˈwɪt.nəs/ UK /ˈwɪt.nəs/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, wit.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC
Division By Sound
/wɪt.nəs/
Division By Letters
wit-ness
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Witness
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 | t | CVC | closed |
| 2 | n | ə | s | CVC | closed |
Why Witness Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /t/.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈwɪt.nəs/ | /ˈwɪt.nəs/ | 2 |
| Also | /ˈwɪt.nɪs/ | 2 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in witness?
Witness has 2 syllables, wit-ness. In British English it is transcribed /ˈwɪt.nəs/.
Which syllable is stressed in witness?
The first syllable, wit, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of witness?
Witness has the structure CVC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide witness into syllables?
By sound, wɪt.nəs. By letters, as a spelling guide, wit-ness.