What is a Syllable? Word Stress in American English Part 1

To pronounce English words correctly and clearly you have to understand Word Stress (Syllable Stress), or how some syllables stand out and receive more emphasis than others. In Part 1 of this American accent training series on Word Stress we answer the question “What is a syllable?”

Key Takeaways:

1. At the core of every syllable is a vowel sound. The vowel may stand alone or be surrounded by 1 or 2 consonants or consonant clusters.
2. The amount of vowel sounds in a word determines the number of syllables.
3. Remember- when identifying syllables we are listening for vowel sounds and not looking for vowel letters!