Question

count the syllables in each word. write the number on the line.

1. referee
2. universe
3. maybe
4. ecology
5. been
6. communicate
7. eager
8. beautiful
9. around
10. cute
11. easily
12. only
13. fifteen
14. ready

Explanation:

A syllable is a unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound. We count the vowel - sounds in each word.

1. "referee" has 3 vowel - sounds: /ˌrefəˈriː/, so 3 syllables.
2. "universe" has 3 vowel - sounds: /ˈjuːnɪvɜːs/, so 3 syllables.
3. "maybe" has 2 vowel - sounds: /ˈmeɪbi/, so 2 syllables.
4. "ecology" has 4 vowel - sounds: /ɪˈkɒlədʒi/, so 4 syllables.
5. "been" has 1 vowel - sound: /biːn/, so 1 syllable.
6. "communicate" has 4 vowel - sounds: /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/, so 4 syllables.
7. "eager" has 2 vowel - sounds: /ˈiːɡə(r)/, so 2 syllables.
8. "beautiful" has 3 vowel - sounds: /ˈbjuːtɪfl/, so 3 syllables.
9. "unusual" has 4 vowel - sounds: /ʌnˈjuːʒuəl/, so 4 syllables.
10. "cube" has 1 vowel - sound: /kjuːb/, so 1 syllable.
11. "easily" has 3 vowel - sounds: /ˈiːzəli/, so 3 syllables.
12. "only" has 2 vowel - sounds: /ˈəʊnli/, so 2 syllables.
13. "fifteen" has 2 vowel - sounds: /ˌfɪfˈtiːn/, so 2 syllables.
14. "ready" has 2 vowel - sounds: /ˈredi/, so 2 syllables.

Answer:

1. 3
2. 3
3. 2
4. 4
5. 1
6. 4
7. 2
8. 3
9. 4
10. 1
11. 3
12. 2
13. 2
14. 2