How Many Syllables In Curious?
3syllables
Curious has 3 syllables, cu-ri-ous. It is a trisyllabic word.
curious
/ˈkjʊə.ri.əs/ UK /ˈkjʊr.i.əs/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, cu.
Syllable Structure
CCV/CV/VC
Division By Sound
/kjʊə.ri.əs/
Division By Letters
cu-ri-ous
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Curious
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 | kj | ʊə | – | CCV | open |
| 2 | r | i | – | CV | open |
| 3 | – | ə | s | VC | closed |
Why Curious Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /r/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Two vowels meet between syllables 2 and 3, so syllable 3 has no onset.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in curious?
Curious has 3 syllables, cu-ri-ous. In British English it is transcribed /ˈkjʊə.ri.əs/.
Which syllable is stressed in curious?
The first syllable, cu, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of curious?
Curious has the structure CCV/CV/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide curious into syllables?
By sound, kjʊə.ri.əs. By letters, as a spelling guide, cu-ri-ous.