How Many Syllables In Government?
3syllables
Government has 3 syllables, gov-ern-ment. It is a trisyllabic word.
government
/ˈɡʌv.ən.mənt/ UK /ˈɡʌv.ɚn.mənt/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, gov.
Syllable Structure
CVC/VC/CVCC
Division By Sound
/ɡʌv.ən.mənt/
Division By Letters
gov-ern-ment
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Government
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 | ɡ | ʌ | v | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ə | n | VC | closed |
| 3 | m | ə | nt | CVCC | closed |
Why Government Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ʌ/, so it keeps a coda /v/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /m/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in government?
Government has 3 syllables, gov-ern-ment. In British English it is transcribed /ˈɡʌv.ən.mənt/.
Which syllable is stressed in government?
The first syllable, gov, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of government?
Government has the structure CVC/VC/CVCC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide government into syllables?
By sound, ɡʌv.ən.mənt. By letters, as a spelling guide, gov-ern-ment.