Q&A for How to Divide Words Into Syllables

es-co-ger

The usual practice is to divide syllables after a consonant that follows a "short" vowel. In this case, the second "m" follows the "short o," and so the division comes after the "m". Another example is "habit," in which the division comes after the consonant "b" because the "a" is "short" (hab-it). However, in the word "basin," the "a" is "long," so the division comes before the consonant "s" (ba-sin).

The word "queue" is one syllable. Although it looks wrong, you can't divide it any more than it already is.

A hyphen is usually used. Some might use a slash mark. Dictionaries may use raised dots.

The teacher is correct. In this case "er" is not a suffix; it's just part of the word.

Yes.

The word music is two syllables. (You can tell because your jaw drops twice while saying the word which indicates two syllables.) Divide the word like this: mu-sic.

"Easy" has two syllables (and three vowels). It's divided like this: eas-y. The "y" is a vowel in this case.

e-soph-a-gus

var-i-ous

The word "least" has one syllable.

You don't. "Brought" has one syllable.

tim-id

cra-dle

Divide after the X.

It's cam-er-a. Some sources divide the word into two syllables, which is the way it's usually pronounced: cam-era ("CAM-ra").

Between the t's.

In pluralizing a noun by adding "es," you divide syllables just before the "es." In your example, it's tempting to divide between the s's, except that they occur at the end of the root word and you would not divide between the s's in the singular form.

You would divide it as "a-dorn".

Multi-syllabic words with double consonants are always divided between the double consonants.

"Thought" has one syllable.

Because the "o" is "short," divide after the "m." (If the "o" had been "long," you'd divide after the "o.")

It really is just the time you spend pronouncing those vowels. If it takes a short amount of time, the vowel is short; if it takes longer, then it's long. In the following examples, the first is always short, the second is always long: bot/boot, tat/tar, bat/bar, cat/car, kiss/keys, plus/use, sis/see, pet/pea, set/sea.

Divide it between the p's.

Max-im.

"Clogged" has only one syllable. (In the two-syllable word "clogging," you would divide between the "g's.")

A long vowel "says its own name": day, key, high, note, rude. A short vowel does not "say its own name": cat, bed, trim, dot, rust.

Mal-e-fac-tor.

"Specify" is divided spec-i-fy (and the "e" is pronounced).

Math-e-mat-i-cal.