This document discusses the components of syllables including the onset, nucleus, and coda. It defines these terms and provides examples of identifying each component in syllables. It also discusses different types of syllables such as open and closed syllables. Finally, it examines initial and final consonant clusters that can occur in syllable onsets and codas.

1. Syllable
/s l.ə.bl/ɪ ̩

2. Components of a syllable
Syllable
ONSET
(Optional)
RIME/RHYME
One or more
consonants
NUCLEUS/PEAK
(compulsory)
VOWEL
CODA/TERMINATION
One or more
consonants

3. Components of a syllable with
EXAMPLE
Syllable
BAT /bæt/
ONSET
/b/
RIME/RHYME
/æt/
CONSONANT
/b/
NUCLEUS
/æ/
CODA
/t/

4. Identify the onset in the
following syllables
/si:t/ - seat
/def/ - deaf
/ti:/ - tea
/spi:k/ - speak
/l s/ - lossɔ
Hint– Consonant(s) that begins the
syllable is ONSET.
Consonants in a syllable are OPTIONAL.

5. Identify the NUCLEUS
/sti:l/ - steal
/pet/ - pet
/k :ɔ f/ - cough
/slæk/- slack
Hint– Nucleus is the VOWEL.
Nucleus is MANDATORY.

6. Find the coda.
Note: Some syllables don’t have
coda
/ri:d/ -read
/ski:/- ski
/θred/ - thread
/θri:/ - three
/spred/ - spread
/ki:/ -key

7. syllables
open syllables closed syllables
Syllables which end syllables which
in a vowel and end in a coda
no coda ‘consonant’

8. SYLLABLE ONSET
If the first syllable of the word begins with
a vowel → Zero Onset
e.g. our /ɑʊə/
One consonant → initial consonant (of
any consonant except /ŋ/, /ʒ/ is rare
e.g. send /send/ church /ʧə:ʧ/
Two or more consonants together → an
initial consonant cluster.
e.g. clear /kliǝ/ spring /spriŋ/

9. INTIAL CONSONANT CLUSTERS
1. Initial two consonant clusters
Pre-initial /s/ + initial consonant
e.g. slight /slɑɪt/ smoke /smǝʊk/
Initial + post-initial /j, w, l, r/
e.g. queue /kjʊ:/ twin /twin/ try /trɑɪ/
2. Initial three-consonant cluster
Pre-initial /s/ + initial /p, k, t/ + post-initial /l, r, w, j/
e.g. scream /skri:m/ stew /stjʊ:/
squid /skwɪd/ string /striŋ/

10. SYLLABLE CODA (TERMINATION)
If a syllable ends with:
• A vowel → zero termination
e.g. No car
• A consonant → final consonant
e.g. meal late
• More than one consonant → final consonant
cluster
e.g. ask next
tests texts

11. FINAL CONSONANT CLUSTERS
Final two
Consonant
cluster
Final three
Consonant
Cluster
Final four
Consonant
Cluster

12. FINAL TWO CONSONANT CLUSTERS
1. Pre-final /m, n, ŋ, l, s/ + final. Examples:
bond pump
bank dealt
desk think
2. Final + post-final /s, z, t, d, θ/. Examples:
cats bags
looked begged
eighth kissed

13. FINAL THREE CONSONANT CLUSTERS
1. Pre-final/m, n, ŋ, l, s/ + final + post-final /s, z, t, d, θ/
Examples:
helped =/helpt/= onset + nucleus + pre-final l + final p +
post final t
banks
bonds twelfth
2. Final + post-final 1 + post-final 2. Examples:
fifths = final f + post-final θ + post-final s
next
lapsed

14. FINAL FOUR CONSONANT CLUSTERS
1. Pre-final /m, n, ŋ, l, s/ + final + post-final 1 +
post-final 2 /s, z, t, d, θ/
twelfths
prompts
2. Final + post-final 1 + post-final 2 + post-final
3
sixths = siksθs
texts = teksts

15. VOWEL Pre-final final Post-
final 1
Post-
final 2
Post-
final 3
ONSET
NUCLEUS
CODA
m
n
ŋ
l
s
s, z, t, d, θ
s
l
r
w
j

16. d p e n dɪ
onset
nucleus
Syllable 1
onset
nucleus Pre-final
final
coda
Syllable 2