Syllables are the number of separate beats in a word. A syllable is a form of a unit of measure. It is one unit of pronunciation that is said without any form interruption. Every single word has at least one syllable. They help us break words up into parts or pieces that help us better recognize and sound out words. This really improves your ability to decode any multisyllabic word. Overall, your reading fluency and word accuracy will be heightened to new levels. Not only will we be able to sound out words, but we will become better spellers. This will become a huge asset for students as they come across large words that they have no or limited experience with. You will find this particularly helpful when you reach upper level science classes where completely new vocabulary is introduced almost daily.
These activity sheets will help your students learn were and how to correctly split words up into their component syllables using both word and picture clues. Note for Instructors: Make sure your students understand the difference between syllables and phonemes; they are not the same thing (refer to our phoneme worksheets elsewhere on this site)! Syllable count worksheets are not the meat of what we do around here, but they are necessary to progress towards being fluent with this skill. As always answer keys are found easily.
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Printable Syllable Worksheets
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Divide each word into parts by putting a slash ( / )
between and every one of them. Use a dictionary to help you. Then
write the total number of them in each word on the line.
Start at the ENTER sign. Color the blocks as you move. You can
move up, down, or across (not diagonal), but only on spaces that contain words
with two sounds. Finish when you reach the EXIT.
Sort each word into the correct box.
The words include: circle, mistake, sentences, oranges, country, office, flannel, images,
secret, lioness, arrogant, tomahawk, glasses, sweater, apricot, and settling.
What Are Syllables and How Are They Counted
In the English vernacular, punctuation has a deep link to spelling. However, this link can also be tricky. How a word sounds isn’t always how it is spelled.
What Are Syllables?
In the oxford dictionary, syllables are defined as any of the units into which a word is divided and contains a vowel sound and one or more consonants.
In simple terms, syllables are a unit of the English language used to join constants and vowels together. One syllable only has one sound, and words are divided into different syllables.
For example, the word "potato" can be divided into three syllables: PO-TA-TO.
Synonyms can also have more than just two words, as long as the words form only one sound.
For example, the word "Advisor" can be divided into three syllables: AD-VI-SER.
The Different Types That You May Come Across
Syllables are divided into two types. These types are discussed below:
Open Form
Open syllables are syllables with only one vowel, and the syllable ends with the vowel sound.
Examples: me, my, no, to, try, cry, threw, etc.
Closed Form
Closed syllables are syllables with only one vowel, and the syllable ends with a consonant sound.
Examples: basket, cat, chat, of, as, trek, bun, etc.
Types of Words That Push This Concept
Some words have one syllable, while others can have more than one syllable. A misconception that people often have is about vowels in syllabic words. The number of syllables in a word does not always depend on the number of vowels. Sometimes, two vowels can give a single syllable.
Monosyllabic Words
These words contain only one syllable and can either have a single vowel with a single sound or two vowels (Diphthong) with a single sound.
Examples of single vowel monosyllabic words: jump, yes, cry, can, etc.
Examples of two vowel monosyllabic words: heat, freak, lain, chain, etc.
Examples of three vowel monosyllabic words:
Polysyllabic Words
These words contain more than one syllable and two or more vowels. These words may have two vowels (Diphthong) with a single sound or three vowels (triphthong) with a single sound.
There are many ways you can count syllables. The most common methods used to count syllables are as follows:
The Listening Method
The listening method is the most common method and is mostly used after a person gets used to the syllables. In this method, we simply listen to a word after saying it aloud, and the number of times we hear a vowel sound represents the number of syllables in a word.
The Clap Method
In this method, we say a word aloud and clap each time we hear a vowel sound. The number of claps represents the number of syllables in a word.
The Chin Method
In this method, we place a hand under our chin, but not touching it, and saw a word aloud slowly. The number of times our chin makes contact with the hand represents the number of syllables in a word.
To Sum Up
What are syllables, and how to count syllables? Well, now you know.
Syllables are easy to understand; once you practice them, you’ll become a master of picking out syllables based on vowel sounds. Practice how to count syllables, and remember your vowels and what sounds they make, and syllables will no longer be an issue to count.
