Pronunciation Tips
Syllables
Syllables are a group of speech sounds that are pronounced together. A word can have one syllable or as many as seven syllables. For example, there is one syllable in “box,” two syllables in “zebra” and three syllables in “educate.” In English, we don’t say each syllable with the same force. In each word, we stress only one syllable, saying it loudly and all the other syllables weakly. For example, v
ibrant, believe, fantastic.
Listen and pay attention to the stressed syllables in each word.
| one syllable | |
|---|---|
| please | please |
| sight | sight |
| tour | tour |
| two syllables | |
|---|---|
| urgent | ur-gent |
| common | com-mon |
| plenty | plen-ty |
| three or more syllables | |
|---|---|
| encourage | en-cour-age |
| fantastic | fan-tas-tic |
| opportunity | op-por-tu-ni-ty |
Write the syllables of each word in the poem on the lines below. Then, read it aloud. Pay attention to the stressed syllable in each word.
Consider me
As one who loved poetry
And persimmons.
- Masaoaka Shiki
- Masaoaka Shiki