How Many Syllables In Quinoa?
2syllables
Quinoa has 2 syllables, qui-noa. It is a disyllabic word.
quinoa
/ˈkiːn.wɑː/ UK /ˈkiːn.wɑː/ US
Quinoa can also be said with 3 syllables (UK /kɪˈnəʊ.ə/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, qui.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CV
Division By Sound
/kiːn.wɑː/
Division By Letters
qui-noa
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Quinoa
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 | k | iː | n | CVC | closed |
| 2 | w | ɑː | – | CV | open |
Why Quinoa Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /w/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈkiːn.wɑː/ | /ˈkiːn.wɑː/ | 2 |
| Also | /kɪˈnəʊ.ə/ | 3 | |
| Also | /kɪˈnəʊə/ | 2 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in quinoa?
Quinoa has 2 syllables, qui-noa. In British English it is transcribed /ˈkiːn.wɑː/.
Which syllable is stressed in quinoa?
The first syllable, qui, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of quinoa?
Quinoa has the structure CVC/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide quinoa into syllables?
By sound, kiːn.wɑː. By letters, as a spelling guide, qui-noa.