How Many Syllables In Nuclear?
3syllables
Nuclear has 3 syllables, nu-cle-ar. It is a trisyllabic word.
nuclear
/ˈnjuː.kli.ə/ UK /ˈnuː.kli.ɚ/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, nu.
Syllable Structure
CCV/CCV/V
Division By Sound
/njuː.kli.ə/
Division By Letters
nu-cle-ar
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Nuclear
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 | nj | uː | – | CCV | open |
| 2 | kl | i | – | CCV | open |
| 3 | – | ə | – | V | open |
Why Nuclear Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /kl/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Two vowels meet between syllables 2 and 3, so syllable 3 has no onset.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in nuclear?
Nuclear has 3 syllables, nu-cle-ar. In British English it is transcribed /ˈnjuː.kli.ə/.
Which syllable is stressed in nuclear?
The first syllable, nu, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of nuclear?
Nuclear has the structure CCV/CCV/V, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide nuclear into syllables?
By sound, njuː.kli.ə. By letters, as a spelling guide, nu-cle-ar.