How Many Syllables In Hospital?
3syllables
Hospital has 3 syllables, hos-pi-tal. It is a trisyllabic word.
hospital
/ˈhɒs.pɪ.təl/ UK /ˈhɑː.spɪ.t̬əl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, hos.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CV/CVC
Division By Sound
/hɒs.pɪ.təl/
Division By Letters
hos-pi-tal
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Hospital
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 | s | CVC | closed |
| 2 | p | ɪ | – | CV | open |
| 3 | t | ə | l | CVC | closed |
Why Hospital Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɒ/, so it keeps a coda /s/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in hospital?
Hospital has 3 syllables, hos-pi-tal. In British English it is transcribed /ˈhɒs.pɪ.təl/.
Which syllable is stressed in hospital?
The first syllable, hos, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of hospital?
Hospital has the structure CVC/CV/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide hospital into syllables?
By sound, hɒs.pɪ.təl. By letters, as a spelling guide, hos-pi-tal.