How Many Syllables In Poetry?
3syllables
Poetry has 3 syllables, po-e-try. It is a trisyllabic word.
poetry
/ˈpəʊ.ɪ.tri/ UK /ˈpoʊ.ə.tri/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, po.
Syllable Structure
CV/V/CCV
Division By Sound
/pəʊ.ɪ.tri/
Division By Letters
po-e-try
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Poetry
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 | əʊ | – | CV | open |
| 2 | – | ɪ | – | V | open |
| 3 | tr | i | – | CCV | open |
Why Poetry Divides Here
- Two vowels meet between syllables 1 and 2, so syllable 2 has no onset.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /tr/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in poetry?
Poetry has 3 syllables, po-e-try. In British English it is transcribed /ˈpəʊ.ɪ.tri/.
Which syllable is stressed in poetry?
The first syllable, po, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of poetry?
Poetry has the structure CV/V/CCV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide poetry into syllables?
By sound, pəʊ.ɪ.tri. By letters, as a spelling guide, po-e-try.