Syllables
Syllable types and syllable division
Every syllable type and division pattern on its own page, with word lists from our lexicon shown divided (rab/bit, ro/bot), a teacher script and a sorting activity.
The answer
A syllable has one vowel sound, and there are six syllable types: closed, open, silent e, vowel team, r-controlled and consonant-le. Division patterns tell you where long words split. Our 12 pages list 1,870 different words, divided.
Syllable types tell a student what the vowel will say. Division patterns tell them where to cut a long word so each part has one vowel. Students need both, in that order: types first, with one-syllable words, then division with two-syllable words built from types they already read.
Our lexicon has syllable counts but no syllable boundaries, so every division on these pages is worked out from each word's sounds and spellings and checked by hand. Words where that method is not reliable, such as words with a reduced first vowel or an r between the vowels, are left out rather than shown with a doubtful split.
The six syllable types
Closed syllable words
Closed syllables end in a consonant and have a short vowel. One-syllable closed words plus two-syllable words shown divided (rab/bit), with a script.Open syllable words
Open syllables end in a vowel, which usually says its long sound: go, me, ro/bot. One-syllable open words and two-syllable words shown divided.Silent e syllables (vowel-consonant-e)
Silent e syllables end in a vowel, then one consonant, then an e that makes the vowel long: cake, in/vite. One- and two-syllable word lists, divided.Vowel team syllables
Vowel team syllables have two or more letters spelling one vowel sound: rain, boat, light, ex/plain. One- and two-syllable word lists, divided.R-controlled syllables
In an r-controlled syllable, r right after the vowel changes its sound: car, her, bird, fork, gar/den. One- and two-syllable word lists, divided.Consonant-le syllables
Consonant-le words end in a consonant plus le, which forms its own syllable: ta/ble, lit/tle, can/dle. Every word in our list, shown divided.
Syllable division patterns
VCCV words: divide between the consonants
VCCV words have two consonants between two vowels and divide between them: rab/bit, nap/kin. Every word in our list shown divided, plus a script.V/CV words: open first syllable
V/CV words have one consonant between two vowels and divide before it, leaving the first vowel long: ro/bot, ti/ger, mu/sic. The full divided list.VC/V words: closed first syllable
VC/V words have one consonant between two vowels and divide after it, so the first vowel is short: cab/in, lem/on, rob/in. The full divided list.VCCCV words: three consonants between vowels
VCCCV words have three consonants between two vowels. Keep a blend together (hun/dred) or split after two (pump/kin). The full divided list.V/V words: divide between two vowels
V/V words have two vowels side by side that each say their own sound, so you divide between them: li/on, po/em, di/et. The full divided list.Compound words: divide between the two words
Compound words join two words, and you divide between them: sun/set, foot/ball, rain/bow. Hundreds of compound words from our lexicon, divided.
Questions people ask
What are the six syllable types?
Closed (cat), open (go), silent e (cake), vowel team (rain), r-controlled (car) and consonant-le (the ble in table). Each type predicts the vowel sound in the syllable.
What order should syllable division be taught in?
Compound words first, then VCCV (rab/bit), then V/CV and VC/V together with the flex step, then consonant-le, VCCCV and V/V. Each step builds on syllable types students already read.
Why are some words not divided on these pages?
We only show a division when our method gives a reliable answer. Words with a schwa in the first syllable, an r between the vowels, or an x between them are left out rather than shown with a split we can't stand behind.