How Many Syllables In National?
3syllables
National has 3 syllables, nat-ion-al. It is a trisyllabic word.
national
/ˈnæʃ.ən.əl/ UK /ˈnæʃ.ən.əl/ US
National can also be said with 2 syllables (UK /ˈnæʃ.nəl/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, nat.
Syllable Structure
CVC/VC/VC
Division By Sound
/næʃ.ən.əl/
Division By Letters
nat-ion-al
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of National
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 | n | æ | ʃ | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ə | n | VC | closed |
| 3 | – | ə | l | VC | closed |
Why National Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /æ/, so it keeps a coda /ʃ/.
- Syllable 2 ends in /n/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈnæʃ.ən.əl/ | /ˈnæʃ.ən.əl/ | 3 |
| Also | /ˈnæʃ.nəl/ | 2 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in national?
National has 3 syllables, nat-ion-al. In British English it is transcribed /ˈnæʃ.ən.əl/.
Which syllable is stressed in national?
The first syllable, nat, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of national?
National has the structure CVC/VC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide national into syllables?
By sound, næʃ.ən.əl. By letters, as a spelling guide, nat-ion-al.