How Many Syllables In Literal?
3syllables
Literal has 3 syllables, lit-er-al. It is a trisyllabic word.
literal
/ˈlɪt.ər.əl/ UK /ˈlɪt.ə.rəl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, lit.
Syllable Structure
CVC/VC/VC
Division By Sound
/lɪt.ər.əl/
Division By Letters
lit-er-al
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Literal
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 | l | ɪ | t | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ə | r | VC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | l | VC | closed |
Why Literal Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /t/.
- Syllable 2 ends in /r/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in literal?
Literal has 3 syllables, lit-er-al. In British English it is transcribed /ˈlɪt.ər.əl/.
Which syllable is stressed in literal?
The first syllable, lit, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of literal?
Literal has the structure CVC/VC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide literal into syllables?
By sound, lɪt.ər.əl. By letters, as a spelling guide, lit-er-al.