How Many Syllables In Citizen?
3syllables
Citizen has 3 syllables, cit-i-zen. It is a trisyllabic word.
citizen
/ˈsɪt.ɪ.zən/ UK /ˈsɪt.ɪ.zən/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, cit.
Syllable Structure
CVC/V/CVC
Division By Sound
/sɪt.ɪ.zən/
Division By Letters
cit-i-zen
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Citizen
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 | s | ɪ | t | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ɪ | – | V | open |
| 3 | z | ə | n | CVC | closed |
Why Citizen Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /t/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /z/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in citizen?
Citizen has 3 syllables, cit-i-zen. In British English it is transcribed /ˈsɪt.ɪ.zən/.
Which syllable is stressed in citizen?
The first syllable, cit, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of citizen?
Citizen has the structure CVC/V/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide citizen into syllables?
By sound, sɪt.ɪ.zən. By letters, as a spelling guide, cit-i-zen.