How Many Syllables In Sympathetic?
4syllables
Sympathetic has 4 syllables, sym-pa-thet-ic. It is a polysyllabic word.
sympathetic
/ˌsɪm.pəˈθet.ɪk/ UK /ˌsɪm.pəˈθet.ɪk/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, thet.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CV/CVC/VC
Division By Sound
/sɪm.pə.θet.ɪk/
Division By Letters
sym-pa-thet-ic
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Sympathetic
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 | s | ɪ | m | CVC | closed |
| 2 | p | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 primary stress | θ | e | t | CVC | closed |
| 4 | – | ɪ | k | VC | closed |
Why Sympathetic Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɪ/, so it keeps a coda /m/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /θ/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 3 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /t/.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in sympathetic?
Sympathetic has 4 syllables, sym-pa-thet-ic. In British English it is transcribed /ˌsɪm.pəˈθet.ɪk/.
Which syllable is stressed in sympathetic?
The third syllable, thet, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of sympathetic?
Sympathetic has the structure CVC/CV/CVC/VC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide sympathetic into syllables?
By sound, sɪm.pə.θet.ɪk. By letters, as a spelling guide, sym-pa-thet-ic.