How Many Syllables In Irritable?
4syllables
Irritable has 4 syllables, irr-i-ta-ble. It is a polysyllabic word.
irritable
/ˈɪr.ɪ.tə.bəl/ UK /ˈɪr.ə.t̬ə.bəl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, irr.
Syllable Structure
VC/V/CV/CVC
Division By Sound
/ɪr.ɪ.tə.bəl/
Division By Letters
irr-i-ta-ble
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Irritable
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 | – | ɪ | r | VC | closed |
| 2 | – | ɪ | – | V | open |
| 3 | t | ə | – | CV | open |
| 4 | b | ə | l | CVC | closed |
Why Irritable Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /r/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Between syllables 3 and 4, /b/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in irritable?
Irritable has 4 syllables, irr-i-ta-ble. In British English it is transcribed /ˈɪr.ɪ.tə.bəl/.
Which syllable is stressed in irritable?
The first syllable, irr, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of irritable?
Irritable has the structure VC/V/CV/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide irritable into syllables?
By sound, ɪr.ɪ.tə.bəl. By letters, as a spelling guide, irr-i-ta-ble.