How Many Syllables In Apostrophe?
4syllables
Apostrophe has 4 syllables, a-pos-tro-phe. It is a polysyllabic word.
apostrophe
/əˈpɒs.trə.fi/ UK /əˈpɑːs.trə.fi/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, pos.
Syllable Structure
V/CVC/CCV/CV
Division By Sound
/ə.pɒs.trə.fi/
Division By Letters
a-pos-tro-phe
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Apostrophe
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | ə | – | V | open |
| 2 primary stress | p | ɒ | s | CVC | closed |
| 3 | tr | ə | – | CCV | open |
| 4 | f | i | – | CV | open |
Why Apostrophe Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /p/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɒ/, so it keeps a coda /s/.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /f/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in apostrophe?
Apostrophe has 4 syllables, a-pos-tro-phe. In British English it is transcribed /əˈpɒs.trə.fi/.
Which syllable is stressed in apostrophe?
The second syllable, pos, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of apostrophe?
Apostrophe has the structure V/CVC/CCV/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide apostrophe into syllables?
By sound, ə.pɒs.trə.fi. By letters, as a spelling guide, a-pos-tro-phe.
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