How Many Syllables In Refugee?
3syllables
Refugee has 3 syllables, ref-u-gee. It is a trisyllabic word.
refugee
/ˌref.jʊˈdʒiː/ UK /ˌref.jʊˈdʒiː/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, gee.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CV/CV
Division By Sound
/ref.jʊ.dʒiː/
Division By Letters
ref-u-gee
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Refugee
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 secondary stress | r | e | f | CVC | closed |
| 2 | j | ʊ | – | CV | open |
| 3 primary stress | dʒ | iː | – | CV | open |
Why Refugee Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /f/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /dʒ/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in refugee?
Refugee has 3 syllables, ref-u-gee. In British English it is transcribed /ˌref.jʊˈdʒiː/.
Which syllable is stressed in refugee?
The third syllable, gee, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of refugee?
Refugee has the structure CVC/CV/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide refugee into syllables?
By sound, ref.jʊ.dʒiː. By letters, as a spelling guide, ref-u-gee.