How Many Syllables In Instrumental?
4syllables
Instrumental has 4 syllables, in-stru-men-tal. It is a polysyllabic word.
instrumental
/ˌɪn.strəˈmen.təl/ UK /ˌɪn.strəˈmen.t̬əl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, men.
Syllable Structure
VC/CCCV/CVC/CVC
Division By Sound
/ɪn.strə.men.təl/
Division By Letters
in-stru-men-tal
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Instrumental
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 secondary stress | – | ɪ | n | VC | closed |
| 2 | str | ə | – | CCCV | open |
| 3 primary stress | m | e | n | CVC | closed |
| 4 | t | ə | l | CVC | closed |
Why Instrumental Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /m/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 3 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in instrumental?
Instrumental has 4 syllables, in-stru-men-tal. In British English it is transcribed /ˌɪn.strəˈmen.təl/.
Which syllable is stressed in instrumental?
The third syllable, men, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of instrumental?
Instrumental has the structure VC/CCCV/CVC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide instrumental into syllables?
By sound, ɪn.strə.men.təl. By letters, as a spelling guide, in-stru-men-tal.