This chapter discusses rules for dividing words into syllables. It explains that a syllable contains one vowel sound and provides five rules: 1) divide between two consonants, 2) divide before a single consonant, 3) divide before consonant + le, 4) divide after prefixes and before suffixes, 5) divide between words in a compound word. Examples are given to illustrate each rule. The chapter reviews that applying these rules involves counting vowel sounds, not letters, as some vowels are silent. Mastering syllable division helps determine the number of syllables in words.

1. GROUNDWORK FOR
COLLEGE READING
WITH PHONICS
Fourth Edition
John Langan
© 2008 Townsend Press

2. Part I, Chapter Three:
Phonics III: Syllables
THIS CHAPTER IN A NUTSHELL
• This chapter reminds you what a syllable is.
• It then provides five rules that help you break words
into syllables:
1 Divide between two consonants.
2 Divide before a single consonant.
3 Divide before a consonant + le.
4 Divide after prefixes and before suffixes.
5 Divide between the words in a compound word.

3. SYLLABLES
A syllable is a word or part of a word that has only one
vowel sound.
• The word rip has just one vowel sound, so it has only
one syllable.
• The word sunscreen is pronounced in two parts, each
with its own vowel sound: sun and screen. It has two
syllables.

4. • A word or syllable that has a silent final e has two vowels
but only one vowel sound.
• For example, the word tune has two vowels but only one
vowel sound. It is a one-syllable word.
SYLLABLES
Words with More Than One Vowel in a Syllable
1 Words with a silent final e

5. SYLLABLES
Words with More Than One Vowel in a Syllable
2 Words with two vowels together in which one
vowel is silent
• Some words or syllables have two vowels together but only
one vowel sound.
• For example, the word heat has two vowels, but only one
vowel sound. It is a one-syllable word.

6. RULES FOR DIVIDING WORDS INTO
SYLLABLES
Dividing between Two Consonants
Rule 1: When two consonants come between
two vowels, divide between the consonants.
This rule is also known as the VC/CV (vowel-consonant/consonant-
vowel) pattern.
Examples:
donkey: don-key happen: hap-pen silver: sil-ver

7. RULES FOR DIVIDING WORDS INTO
SYLLABLES
Dividing between Three Consonants
If a word has three consonants in a row, divide between
the first consonant and the consonant blend.
Examples:
applaud: ap-plaud monster: mon-ster surprise: sur-prise

8. RULES FOR DIVIDING WORDS INTO
SYLLABLES
Dividing before a Single Consonant
Rule 2: When a single consonant comes between two
vowel sounds, divide before the consonant.
This rule is also known as the V/CV (vowel/consonant-vowel)
pattern.
Examples:
even: e-ven minus: mi-nus pony: po-ny

9. RULES FOR DIVIDING WORDS INTO
SYLLABLES
Dividing before a Consonant + le
Rule 3: If a word ends in a consonant followed by le,
the consonant and le form the last syllable.
Examples:
handle: han-dle cable: ca-ble simple: sim-ple

10. RULES FOR DIVIDING WORDS INTO
SYLLABLES
Dividing after Prefixes and before Suffixes
Rule 4: Prefixes and suffixes are usually
separate syllables.
Examples:
prefix: pre-fix unfair: un-fair review: re-view
Prefixes are word parts that are added at the beginnings of
words. Here are some common prefixes:
ad- com- con- de- dis- ex-
in- non- pre- re- sub- un-

11. RULES FOR DIVIDING WORDS INTO
SYLLABLES
Dividing after Prefixes and before Suffixes
Rule 4: Prefixes and suffixes are usually
separate syllables.
Examples:
player: play-er statement: state-ment needless: need-less
Suffixes are word parts that are added at the ends of words. Here
are some common suffixes:
-able -en -er -ful -ing -ist
-less -ly -ment -ness -sion -tion

12. RULES FOR DIVIDING WORDS INTO
SYLLABLES
Dividing between Words in a Compound Word
Rule 5: Compound words are always divided
between the words they contain.
Examples:
railroad: rail-road bloodstream: blood-stream redhead: red-head
A compound word is a combination of two words.

13. CHAPTER REVIEW
In this chapter, you learned the following:
• A syllable is a word or part of a word that has only one vowel sound. So
to figure out the number of syllables in a word, count the number of
vowel sounds. Some vowels are silent, including the following:
—Silent e: rose
—The second letter of certain vowel pairs: pair, play, heat, breed, pie,
soap, toe
• Five rules can help you divide words into syllables:
—Rule 1 (VC/CV): When two consonants come between two vowels,
divide between the consonants: sil-ver.
If a word has three consonants in a row, divide between the first
consonant and the consonant blend: mon-ster.
—Rule 2 (V/CV): When a single consonant comes between two vowel
sounds, divide before the consonant: po-ny.
—Rule 3: If a word ends in a consonant followed by le, the consonant
and le form the last syllable: han-dle.
—Rule 4: Prefixes and suffixes are usually separate syllables: un-fair,
play-er.
—Rule 5: Compound words are always divided between the words they
contain: gold-fish.