What Is a Syllable?

A syllable is a beat in a word — a part you can clap or say in one push of sound.

Examples:

• cat → 1 syllable

• robot → 2 syllables (ro / bot)

• banana → 3 syllables (ba / na / na)

💡 Try clapping the syllables! 👏

Closed vs. Open Syllables

Let’s compare!

💡 If the syllable is open, the vowel says its name!

What Is an Open Syllable?

An open syllable ends in a vowel, and that vowel says its long name (A, E, I, O, U).

Examples:

• go (O says “oh”)

• she (E says “ee”)

• me (E says “ee”)

• hi (I says “eye”)

• we (E says “ee”)

💬 Open syllables “let the vowel breathe!”

Breaking Words Into Syllables

Sometimes a word has two or more syllables.
You can find open syllables in bigger words too!

Examples:

• robot → ro / bot (the first syllable “ro” is open!)

• tiger → ti / ger (the first syllable “ti” is open!)

• music → mu / sic (the first syllable “mu” is open!)

💡 When a vowel ends a syllable, it’s open!