How Many Syllables In Missionary?
4syllables
Missionary has 4 syllables, miss-ion-ar-y. It is a polysyllabic word.
missionary
/ˈmɪʃ.ən.ər.i/ UK /ˈmɪʃ.ə.ner.i/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, miss.
Syllable Structure
CVC/VC/VC/V
Division By Sound
/mɪʃ.ən.ər.i/
Division By Letters
miss-ion-ar-y
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Missionary
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 | ɪ | ʃ | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ə | n | VC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | r | VC | closed |
| 4 | – | i | – | V | open |
Why Missionary Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /ʃ/.
- Syllable 2 ends in /n/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
- Syllable 3 ends in /r/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in missionary?
Missionary has 4 syllables, miss-ion-ar-y. In British English it is transcribed /ˈmɪʃ.ən.ər.i/.
Which syllable is stressed in missionary?
The first syllable, miss, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of missionary?
Missionary has the structure CVC/VC/VC/V, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide missionary into syllables?
By sound, mɪʃ.ən.ər.i. By letters, as a spelling guide, miss-ion-ar-y.