How Many Syllables In Sunflower?
3syllables
Sunflower has 3 syllables, sun-flow-er. It is a trisyllabic word.
sunflower
/ˈsʌn.flaʊ.ə/ UK /ˈsʌn.flaʊ.ɚ/ US
Sunflower can also be said with 2 syllables (UK /ˈsʌn.flaʊə/).
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, sun.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CCV/V
Division By Sound
/sʌn.flaʊ.ə/
Division By Letters
sun-flow-er
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Sunflower
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 | s | ʌ | n | CVC | closed |
| 2 | fl | aʊ | – | CCV | open |
| 3 | – | ə | – | V | open |
Why Sunflower Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ʌ/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
- Two vowels meet between syllables 2 and 3, so syllable 3 has no onset.
Pronunciations
| Form | UK | US | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | /ˈsʌn.flaʊ.ə/ | /ˈsʌn.flaʊ.ɚ/ | 3 |
| Also | /ˈsʌn.flaʊə/ | 2 |
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in sunflower?
Sunflower has 3 syllables, sun-flow-er. In British English it is transcribed /ˈsʌn.flaʊ.ə/.
Which syllable is stressed in sunflower?
The first syllable, sun, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of sunflower?
Sunflower has the structure CVC/CCV/V, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide sunflower into syllables?
By sound, sʌn.flaʊ.ə. By letters, as a spelling guide, sun-flow-er.