How Many Syllables In Horrible?
3syllables
Horrible has 3 syllables, horr-i-ble. It is a trisyllabic word.
horrible
/ˈhɒr.ə.bəl/ UK /ˈhɔːr.ə.bəl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, horr.
Syllable Structure
CVC/V/CVC
Division By Sound
/hɒr.ə.bəl/
Division By Letters
horr-i-ble
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Horrible
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 | ɒ | r | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ə | – | V | open |
| 3 | b | ə | l | CVC | closed |
Why Horrible Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɒ/, so it keeps a coda /r/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /b/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈhɒr.ə.bəl/ | /ˈhɔːr.ə.bəl/ | 3 |
| Also | /ˈhɒr.ɪ.bəl/ | 3 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in horrible?
Horrible has 3 syllables, horr-i-ble. In British English it is transcribed /ˈhɒr.ə.bəl/.
Which syllable is stressed in horrible?
The first syllable, horr, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of horrible?
Horrible has the structure CVC/V/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide horrible into syllables?
By sound, hɒr.ə.bəl. By letters, as a spelling guide, horr-i-ble.