How Many Syllables In Sympathy?
3syllables
Sympathy has 3 syllables, sym-pa-thy. It is a trisyllabic word.
sympathy
/ˈsɪm.pə.θi/ UK /ˈsɪm.pə.θi/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, sym.
Syllable Structure
CVC/CV/CV
Division By Sound
/sɪm.pə.θi/
Division By Letters
sym-pa-thy
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Sympathy
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 | ɪ | m | CVC | closed |
| 2 | p | ə | – | CV | open |
| 3 | θ | i | – | CV | open |
Why Sympathy 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.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in sympathy?
Sympathy has 3 syllables, sym-pa-thy. In British English it is transcribed /ˈsɪm.pə.θi/.
Which syllable is stressed in sympathy?
The first syllable, sym, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of sympathy?
Sympathy has the structure CVC/CV/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide sympathy into syllables?
By sound, sɪm.pə.θi. By letters, as a spelling guide, sym-pa-thy.