How Many Syllables In Maintenance?
3syllables
Maintenance has 3 syllables, main-ten-ance. It is a trisyllabic word.
maintenance
/ˈmeɪn.tən.əns/ UK /ˈmeɪn.t̬ən.əns/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, main.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CVC/VCC
Division By Sound
/meɪn.tən.əns/
Division By Letters
main-ten-ance
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Maintenance
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 | m | eɪ | n | CVC | closed |
| 2 | t | ə | n | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | ns | VCC | closed |
Why Maintenance Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 ends in /n/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in maintenance?
Maintenance has 3 syllables, main-ten-ance. In British English it is transcribed /ˈmeɪn.tən.əns/.
Which syllable is stressed in maintenance?
The first syllable, main, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of maintenance?
Maintenance has the structure CVC/CVC/VCC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide maintenance into syllables?
By sound, meɪn.tən.əns. By letters, as a spelling guide, main-ten-ance.