A syllable is a single beat of sound in a word. Every syllable has a vowel sound. Knowing how to recognize different types of syllables helps you read and spell words more easily.
Clap once for each syllable you hear in a word. This can help you break words into parts when reading.
A closed syllable ends with a consonant. The vowel sound is usually short.
If the syllable ends with a consonant, the vowel is usually short. Think of words like cat and dog.
An open syllable ends with a vowel. The vowel sound is usually long.
If the syllable ends with a vowel, the vowel usually says its name. Example: he.
A silent e syllable has a vowel, a consonant, and then a final silent e. The silent e makes the first vowel long.
Silent e is sometimes called "magic e" because it makes the vowel before it say its name. Example: cap → cape.
A vowel team syllable has two vowels together that make one sound. The sound can be long, short, or another vowel sound.
Remember: "When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking." Example: rain → the "a" says its name.
An r-controlled syllable has a vowel followed by the letter r. The r changes the way the vowel sounds.
Think of the letter r as a "bossy r." It changes the vowel sound in the syllable.
A consonant-le syllable happens at the end of words. It ends with a consonant, then le. The e is silent.
When you see consonant + le at the end of a word, divide before the consonant. Example: ta-ble.
There are six main types of syllables: closed, open, silent e, vowel team, r-controlled, and consonant-le. Knowing these patterns helps you read and spell new words more confidently.
Practice spotting the syllable type when you read. The more you practice, the faster you’ll become at decoding new words.