How Many Syllables In Penalty?
3syllables
Penalty has 3 syllables, pen-al-ty. It is a trisyllabic word.
penalty
/ˈpen.əl.ti/ UK /ˈpen.əl.ti/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, pen.
Syllable Structure
CVC/VC/CV
Division By Sound
/pen.əl.ti/
Division By Letters
pen-al-ty
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Penalty
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 | p | e | n | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ə | l | VC | closed |
| 3 | t | i | – | CV | open |
Why Penalty Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in penalty?
Penalty has 3 syllables, pen-al-ty. In British English it is transcribed /ˈpen.əl.ti/.
Which syllable is stressed in penalty?
The first syllable, pen, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of penalty?
Penalty has the structure CVC/VC/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide penalty into syllables?
By sound, pen.əl.ti. By letters, as a spelling guide, pen-al-ty.