How Many Syllables In Washington?
3syllables
Washington has 3 syllables, wash-ing-ton. It is a trisyllabic word.
washington
/ˈwɒʃ.ɪŋ.tən/ UK /ˈwɑː.ʃɪŋ.tən/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, wash.
Syllable Structure
CVC/VC/CVC
Division By Sound
/wɒʃ.ɪŋ.tən/
Division By Letters
wash-ing-ton
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Washington
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 | w | ɒ | ʃ | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ɪ | ŋ | VC | closed |
| 3 | t | ə | n | CVC | closed |
Why Washington Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɒ/, so it keeps a coda /ʃ/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /t/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in Washington?
Washington has 3 syllables, wash-ing-ton. In British English it is transcribed /ˈwɒʃ.ɪŋ.tən/.
Which syllable is stressed in Washington?
The first syllable, wash, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of Washington?
Washington has the structure CVC/VC/CVC, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide Washington into syllables?
By sound, wɒʃ.ɪŋ.tən. By letters, as a spelling guide, wash-ing-ton.