How Many Syllables In Unable?
3syllables
Unable has 3 syllables, un-a-ble. It is a trisyllabic word.
unable
/ʌnˈeɪ.bəl/ UK /ʌnˈeɪ.bəl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, a.
Syllable Structure
VC/V/CVC
Division By Sound
/ʌn.eɪ.bəl/
Division By Letters
un-a-ble
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Unable
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | ʌ | n | VC | closed |
| 2 primary stress | – | eɪ | – | V | open |
| 3 | b | ə | l | CVC | closed |
Why Unable Divides Here
- Syllable 1 ends in /n/ because the next syllable cannot take it as an onset here.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /b/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in unable?
Unable has 3 syllables, un-a-ble. In British English it is transcribed /ʌnˈeɪ.bəl/.
Which syllable is stressed in unable?
The second syllable, a, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of unable?
Unable has the structure VC/V/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide unable into syllables?
By sound, ʌn.eɪ.bəl. By letters, as a spelling guide, un-a-ble.