How Many Syllables In Empirical?
4syllables
Empirical has 4 syllables, em-pir-i-cal. It is a polysyllabic word.
empirical
/ɪmˈpɪr.ɪ.kəl/ UK /ɪmˈpɪr.ɪ.kəl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, pir.
Syllable Structure
VC/CVC/V/CVC
Division By Sound
/ɪm.pɪr.ɪ.kəl/
Division By Letters
em-pir-i-cal
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Empirical
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | ɪ | m | VC | closed |
| 2 primary stress | p | ɪ | r | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ɪ | – | V | open |
| 4 | k | ə | l | CVC | closed |
Why Empirical 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 /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /r/.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /k/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in empirical?
Empirical has 4 syllables, em-pir-i-cal. In British English it is transcribed /ɪmˈpɪr.ɪ.kəl/.
Which syllable is stressed in empirical?
The second syllable, pir, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of empirical?
Empirical has the structure VC/CVC/V/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide empirical into syllables?
By sound, ɪm.pɪr.ɪ.kəl. By letters, as a spelling guide, em-pir-i-cal.