How Many Syllables In Hopefully?
3syllables
Hopefully has 3 syllables, hope-fu-lly. It is a trisyllabic word.
hopefully
/ˈhəʊp.fəl.i/ UK /ˈhoʊp.fə.li/ US
Hopefully can also be said with 2 syllables (UK /ˈhəʊp.fli/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, hope.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC/V
Division By Sound
/həʊp.fəl.i/
Division By Letters
hope-fu-lly
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Hopefully
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 | əʊ | p | CVC | closed |
| 2 | f | ə | l | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | i | – | V | open |
Why Hopefully Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /f/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 ends in /l/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈhəʊp.fəl.i/ | /ˈhoʊp.fə.li/ | 3 |
| Also | /ˈhəʊp.fli/ | 2 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in hopefully?
Hopefully has 3 syllables, hope-fu-lly. In British English it is transcribed /ˈhəʊp.fəl.i/.
Which syllable is stressed in hopefully?
The first syllable, hope, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of hopefully?
Hopefully has the structure CVC/CVC/V, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide hopefully into syllables?
By sound, həʊp.fəl.i. By letters, as a spelling guide, hope-fu-lly.