Syllable Division Rules

1. Separate prefixes and suffixes from root words.

o examples: pre-view, work-ing, re-do, end-less, & out-ing

2. Are two (or more) consonants next to each other?

o Divide between the 1st and 2nd consonants.
examples: buf-fet, des-sert, ob-ject, ber-ry, & pil-grim
o Never split 2 consonants that make only 1 sound when pronounced together and aren't the
same letter (i.e., 'ff').
examples: th, sh, ph, th, ch, & wh

3. Is the consonant surrounded by vowels?

o Does the vowel have a long sound? (Like the 'i' in line)
Divide before the consonant.
examples: ba-by, re-sult, i-vy, fro-zen, & Cu-pid
o Does the vowel have a short sound? (Like the 'i' in mill)
Divide after the consonant.
examples: met-al, riv-er, mod-el, val-ue, & rav-age

4. Does the word end with 'ckle'?

o Divide right before the 'le.'
o examples: tack-le, freck-le, tick-le, & buck-le

5. Does the word end with 'le' (not 'ckle')?

o Is the letter before the 'le' a consonant?
Divide 1 letter before the 'le.'
examples: ap-ple, rum-ble, fa-ble, & ta-ble
o Is the letter before the 'le' a vowel?
Do nothing.
examples: ale, scale, sale, file, & tile
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Fun Fact
The opposite of dj vu is
jamais-vu.
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Syllable Rules >> Counting Syllables Examples

Examples
 little: lit - tle

petal: pet - al

turtle: tur - tle

ankle: an - kle

riddle: rid - dle

arrow: ar - row

nickle: nick - le

cotton: cot - ton

student: stu - dent

teacher: teach - er

children: chil - dren

pottery: pot - ter - y

learning: learn - ing

textbook: text - book

watching: watch - ing

screaming: scream - ing

misbehaving: mis - be - hav - ing

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Tips for Dividing a Word into Syllables

Created: Tuesday, 26 April 2011 20:13
Written by Denise Eide
There are five types of syllables in English:

1. Open Syllables - include a single-letter vowel which occurs at the end of

the syllable. This syllable pattern follows the spelling rules: A E O U usually say
their names at the end of the syllalble, and I and Y may say their long or short
sound at the end of the syllable. For example: me, cry, ta-ble, pro-tect.
2. Closed Syllables - A closed syllable includes a single-letter vowel but the
syllable ends in a consonant. In this case the single letter vowel says its short
sound. For example: duck, patch, hap-pen, din-ner

3. Multi-Letter Vowel Syllables - Multi-letter vowels are two or more letters

working together to form a single vowel phonogram. (igh, ea, ui, oa, etc.) For
example: night, read, fruit, boat.

4. Consonant + le Syllables (or Consonant + re) - These words have a

final syllable with a silent final E. They follow the spelling rule: Every syllable
must have a written vowel. For example: ti-tle, puz-zle, un-cle, drib-ble, a-cre,
mas-sa-cre.

5. Vowel + R Syllables - The consonant R often distorts the vowel sound of

the preceeding vowel. These syallables include the phonograms: ar, er, ir, or, ur,
ear, wor. For example: car, her, bird, born, surface, early, word.

Here are a few tips to divide a word into syllables:

1. Divide off any compound words - For example: book-end, car-pool,

class-room.

2. Divide the prefixes and suffixes from the baseword - For example: re-
move, jump-er, price-less, un-sharp-en.

3. Underline the vowels in the baseword - Remember, syllables are formed

by the vowels. Every syllable has one and only one vowel sound. Though many
vowels are written with two or more letters: For example: igh, au, ough, ay.

4. Examine the baseword for:

o A silent final E needed for the syllable - Count back two

consonants from the silent final E and divide the syllable. For example: ti-
tle, lit-tle, puz-zle, a-cre.
o Two vowels on either side of a double consonant - Divide the
syllable between the consonants. For example: din-ner, hap-py, rub-ber,
but-ter, ap-proach.
o Two vowels on either side of two single-letter consonants -
Usually divide the syllable between the consonants - For example: un-der,
bas-ket, tem-per,
o A single consonant in the middle of the word - Usually divide
the syllable before the consonant. These words follow the spelling rules: A E
O U usually say their names at the end of the syllable; and I and Y may say
either their long or short sounds at the end of a syllable. For example: o-
pen, ro-tate, ba-by, me-ter.