How Many Syllables In Harmless?
2syllables
Harmless has 2 syllables, harm-less. It is a disyllabic word.
harmless
/ˈhɑːm.ləs/ UK /ˈhɑːrm.ləs/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, harm.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC
Division By Sound
/hɑːm.ləs/
Division By Letters
harm-less
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Harmless
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 | h | ɑː | m | CVC | closed |
| 2 | l | ə | s | CVC | closed |
Why Harmless Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /l/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈhɑːm.ləs/ | /ˈhɑːrm.ləs/ | 2 |
| Also | /ˈhɑːm.lɪs/ | 2 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in harmless?
Harmless has 2 syllables, harm-less. In British English it is transcribed /ˈhɑːm.ləs/.
Which syllable is stressed in harmless?
The first syllable, harm, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of harmless?
Harmless has the structure CVC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide harmless into syllables?
By sound, hɑːm.ləs. By letters, as a spelling guide, harm-less.