Hey guys, I've got a question:
The biggest syllable in English is CCCVCCCC. Now for example we have the word "unutterable". My dictionary says the phonetic transcription of this word is ʌnʌt. ə r.ə.bl
In the first syllable(ʌnʌt.) there are 2 vowels. Something like this:VCVC.
How is it possible to have two vowels in one syllable. As far as I know there could be clusters of consonants in one syllable but only one vowel.
Appreciate your help.
Two vowels in one syllable (not a diphthong)
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- Joe
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Re: Two vowels in one syllable (not a diphthong)
That is not correct "unut" is 2 syllables.Clayton wrote:In the first syllable(ʌnʌt.) there are 2 vowels.
The whole word unutterable has 5 syllables:
un | ut | ter | a | ble
It's important to distinguish between vowels and vowel SOUNDS. The word "seat", for example, is one syllable with two vowels, but only one vowel sound.Clayton wrote:How is it possible to have two vowels in one syllable. As far as I know there could be clusters of consonants in one syllable but only one vowel.
Here is the definition of "syllable" from the Apple Dictionary:
syllable (noun): a unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants, forming the whole or a part of a word; e.g., there are two syllables in water and three in inferno.
This page about understanding syllables may also help.
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Re: Two vowels in one syllable (not a diphthong)
Thanks man. Yeah ,if it's considered 2 syllables there won't be any problem. I use Cambridge Advanced Learner dictionary which shows 4 syllables for this word and the first of which is "unut". I've got no idea about it
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Re: Two vowels in one syllable (not a diphthong)
Hey men, I just tried to count syllables in the word 'onomatopoeia'. Do you think 6 is correct
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Re: Two vowels in one syllable (not a diphthong)
love one is the word which has two vowel in one syllable
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Re: Two vowels in one syllable (not a diphthong)
Yes, six syllables: on-o-ma-to-poei-a /ˌɒnəmatəˈpiːə/