Syllable Rules

Every syllable must have a vowel!

Rule #1

When there are two consonants in the middle of the word the syllable break is between those two consonants.

* hap-pen * dinner * cabbage

* supper * puppy * target

* window * napkin * blister

Rule #2

If the word is a compound word, the syllable break is between the two words.

* cup-cake * doghouse * firefighter

* everyone * football * classroom

* butterfly * bedroom * shoelace

Rule #3

If the word has only one consonant in the middle, the syllable break is usually before the consonant. When a vowel is at the end of the syllable, it’s called an open syllable and the vowel makes a long sound.

* ba-con * donut * baby

* clover * begin * regard

* silent * siren * oval

Rule #4

If the word has only one consonant in the middle and you tried breaking it between the vowel and the consonant and it didn’t make a word you recognize, try breaking the word between the consonant and the next vowel. This is called a closed syllable and will make the vowel short. This works 45% of the time.

* fin-ish * minute * money

* camel * digit * venom

* travel * level * honey

Rule #5

If the word has a prefix or a suffix, the syllable break is usually between the prefix/suffix and the base word.

* un-tie * jumping * regroup

* lighter * frosty * misuse

* pushes * tilted * preorder