How Many Syllables In Entertain?
3syllables
Entertain has 3 syllables, en-ter-tain. It is a trisyllabic word.
entertain
/ˌen.təˈteɪn/ UK /ˌen.t̬ɚˈteɪn/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, tain.
Syllable Structure
VC/CV/CVC
Division By Sound
/en.tə.teɪn/
Division By Letters
en-ter-tain
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Entertain
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 secondary stress | – | e | n | VC | closed |
| 2 | t | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 primary stress | t | eɪ | n | CVC | closed |
Why Entertain Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in entertain?
Entertain has 3 syllables, en-ter-tain. In British English it is transcribed /ˌen.təˈteɪn/.
Which syllable is stressed in entertain?
The third syllable, tain, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of entertain?
Entertain has the structure VC/CV/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide entertain into syllables?
By sound, en.tə.teɪn. By letters, as a spelling guide, en-ter-tain.