How Many Syllables In Desperate?
3syllables
Desperate has 3 syllables, des-per-ate. It is a trisyllabic word.
desperate
/ˈdes.pər.ət/ UK /ˈdes.pɚ.ət/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, des.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC/VC
Division By Sound
/des.pər.ət/
Division By Letters
des-per-ate
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Desperate
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 | d | e | s | CVC | closed |
| 2 | p | ə | r | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | t | VC | closed |
Why Desperate Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /s/.
- Syllable 2 ends in /r/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈdes.pər.ət/ | /ˈdes.pɚ.ət/ | 3 |
| Also | /ˈdes.pər.ɪt/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in desperate?
Desperate has 3 syllables, des-per-ate. In British English it is transcribed /ˈdes.pər.ət/.
Which syllable is stressed in desperate?
The first syllable, des, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of desperate?
Desperate has the structure CVC/CVC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide desperate into syllables?
By sound, des.pər.ət. By letters, as a spelling guide, des-per-ate.