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