How Many Syllables In Yoruba?
3syllables
Yoruba has 3 syllables, yor-u-ba. It is a trisyllabic word.
yoruba
/ˈjɒr.ʊ.bə/ UK /ˈjɔːr.ə.bə/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the first syllable, yor.
Syllable Structure
CVC/V/CV
Division By Sound
/jɒr.ʊ.bə/
Division By Letters
yor-u-ba
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of Yoruba
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 | j | ɒ | r | CVC | closed |
| 2 | – | ʊ | – | V | open |
| 3 | b | ə | – | CV | open |
Why Yoruba Divides Here
- Syllable 1 is stressed and has the short vowel /ɒ/, so it keeps a coda /r/.
- Between syllables 2 and 3, /b/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in Yoruba?
Yoruba has 3 syllables, yor-u-ba. In British English it is transcribed /ˈjɒr.ʊ.bə/.
Which syllable is stressed in Yoruba?
The first syllable, yor, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of Yoruba?
Yoruba has the structure CVC/V/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide Yoruba into syllables?
By sound, jɒr.ʊ.bə. By letters, as a spelling guide, yor-u-ba.