How Many Syllables In Hawaii?
3syllables
Hawaii has 3 syllables, ha-wa-ii. It is a trisyllabic word.
hawaii
/həˈwaɪ.i/ UK /həˈwɑː.i/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, wa.
Syllable Structure
CV/CV/V
Division By Sound
/hə.waɪ.i/
Division By Letters
ha-wa-ii
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Hawaii
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | h | ə | – | CV | open |
| 2 primary stress | w | aɪ | – | CV | open |
| 3 | – | i | – | V | open |
Why Hawaii Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /w/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Two vowels meet between syllables 2 and 3, so syllable 3 has no onset.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in Hawaii?
Hawaii has 3 syllables, ha-wa-ii. In British English it is transcribed /həˈwaɪ.i/.
Which syllable is stressed in Hawaii?
The second syllable, wa, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of Hawaii?
Hawaii has the structure CV/CV/V, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide Hawaii into syllables?
By sound, hə.waɪ.i. By letters, as a spelling guide, ha-wa-ii.