5 Ways to Count Syllables

(Syllable Rules Below)

First, do you know what a syllable is? Learn Here

1. The "Listen Method" Rules

a. Say the word.
b. How many times do you hear A, E, I, O, or U as a separate sound?
c. This is the number of syllables.

2. The "Chin Method" Rules

a. Put your hand under your chin.
b. Say the word.
c. How many times does your chin touch your hand?
d. This is the number of syllables.
3. The "Clap Method" Rules
a. Clapping may help you find syllables.
b. Say the word.
c. Clap each time you hear A, E, I, O, or U as a separate sound.
d. The number of claps is the number of syllables.

4. The "Robot Speak Method" Rules

a. Make believe you are a robot from the year 2000.
b. Say a word as this robot.
c. Pay attention to the pauses you make.
d. How many parts did you break your word into?
Example:
robot = "ro" *pause* "bot"... 2 syllables
Listen: pronouncing robot sound
e. This is the number of syllables.
5. The "Written Method" Rules
a. Count the number of vowels (A, E, I, O, U) in the word.
Add 1 every time the letter 'y' makes the sound of a vowel (A, E, I, O, U).
Subtract 1 for each silent vowel (like the silent 'e' at the end of a word).
b. Subtract 1 for each diphthong or triphthong in the word.
Diphthong: when 2 vowels make only 1 sound (au, oy, oo)
Triphthong: when 3 vowels make only 1 sound (iou)
c. Does the word end with "le" or "les?" Add 1 only if the letter before the "le" is a consonant.
d. The number you get is the number of syllables in your word.
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Next: How to divide into syllables.

Fun Fact
The longest one-syllable
words have 9 letters!
!See more facts
Syllable Rules >> Counting Syllables Examples

Examples
Take

1 syllable: take
pronounced: tay-k
Listen: how to pronounce take
Bee

1 syllable: bee
pronounced: bee
Listen: how to pronounce bee

Taking

2 syllables: tak-ing
pronounced: tay-king
Listen: how to pronounce taking
Redo

2 syllables: re-do
pronounced: ree-doo
Listen: how to pronounce redo
Dusted

2 syllables: dust-ed
pronounced: dus-ted
Listen: how to pronounce fire
Worrying

3 syllables: wor-ry-ing
pronounced: wah-ree-ing
Listen: how to pronounce worrying
Next: How to divide into syllables.