How Many Syllables In Utensil?
3syllables
Utensil has 3 syllables, u-ten-sil. It is a trisyllabic word.
utensil
/juːˈten.sɪl/ UK /juːˈten.səl/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, ten.
Syllable Structure
CV/CVC/CVC
Division By Sound
/juː.ten.sɪl/
Division By Letters
u-ten-sil
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Utensil
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | j | uː | – | CV | open |
| 2 primary stress | t | e | n | CVC | closed |
| 3 | s | ɪ | l | CVC | closed |
Why Utensil Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /n/.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in utensil?
Utensil has 3 syllables, u-ten-sil. In British English it is transcribed /juːˈten.sɪl/.
Which syllable is stressed in utensil?
The second syllable, ten, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of utensil?
Utensil has the structure CV/CVC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide utensil into syllables?
By sound, juː.ten.sɪl. By letters, as a spelling guide, u-ten-sil.