How Many Syllables In Volunteer?
3syllables
Volunteer has 3 syllables, vol-un-teer. It is a trisyllabic word.
volunteer
/ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪə/ UK /ˌvɑː.lənˈtɪr/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the third syllable, teer.
Syllable Structure
CVC/VC/CV
Division By Sound
/vɒl.ən.tɪə/
Division By Letters
vol-un-teer
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Volunteer
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 | v | ɒ | l | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ə | n | VC | closed |
| 3 primary stress | t | ɪə | – | CV | open |
Why Volunteer Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɒ/, so it keeps a coda /l/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in volunteer?
Volunteer has 3 syllables, vol-un-teer. In British English it is transcribed /ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪə/.
Which syllable is stressed in volunteer?
The third syllable, teer, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of volunteer?
Volunteer has the structure CVC/VC/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide volunteer into syllables?
By sound, vɒl.ən.tɪə. By letters, as a spelling guide, vol-un-teer.