syllable
English meaning: Syllable
Definition
A syllable is a single unit of sound in a word, usually with one vowel sound. The word 'water' has two syllables.
Example
“Count the syllables in the word 'banana'.”
Another example: “Clap once for each syllable: 'el-e-phant' has three.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A phonetics / spelling term; a unit of pronunciation with one vowel sound. Children clap out syllables. Used in poetry (metre) and dictionaries (word division). Adjective 'syllabic'.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Greek 'syllabē' meaning a taking together of letters.
Synonyms
Related Words
- penult
- antepenultimate
- polysyllabic
- diphthong
- syllables
- geminate
- monosyllabic
- consonant
- schwa
- vowel
- coda
- prosodic
Common Collocations
- count the syllables
- stressed syllable
- two syllables
- break into syllables
- syllable by syllable
Word Forms
syllable (n); syllables (pl); syllabic (adj)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B