How Many Syllables In Pacific?
3syllables
Pacific has 3 syllables, pa-cif-ic. It is a trisyllabic word.
pacific
/pəˈsɪf.ɪk/ UK /pəˈsɪf.ɪk/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, cif.
Syllable Structure
CV/CVC/VC
Division By Sound
/pə.sɪf.ɪk/
Division By Letters
pa-cif-ic
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Pacific
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | p | ə | – | CV | open |
| 2 primary stress | s | ɪ | f | CVC | closed |
| 3 | – | ɪ | k | VC | closed |
Why Pacific Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /s/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /f/.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in Pacific?
Pacific has 3 syllables, pa-cif-ic. In British English it is transcribed /pəˈsɪf.ɪk/.
Which syllable is stressed in Pacific?
The second syllable, cif, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of Pacific?
Pacific has the structure CV/CVC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide Pacific into syllables?
By sound, pə.sɪf.ɪk. By letters, as a spelling guide, pa-cif-ic.