1 syllable | Definition of syllable
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

syllable

noun
syl·​la·​ble | \ ˈsi-lə-bəl How to pronounce syllable (audio) \

Definition of syllable

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a unit of spoken language that is next bigger than a speech sound and consists of one or more vowel sounds alone or of a syllabic consonant alone or of either with one or more consonant sounds preceding or following
2 : one or more letters (such as syl, la, and ble) in a word (such as syl*la*ble) usually set off from the rest of the word by a centered dot or a hyphen and roughly corresponding to the syllables of spoken language and treated as helps to pronunciation or as guides to placing hyphens at the end of a line
3 : the smallest conceivable expression or unit of something : jot
4 : sol-fa syllables

syllable

verb
syllabled; syllabling\ ˈsi-​lə-​b(ə-​)liŋ How to pronounce syllabling (audio) \

Definition of syllable (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to give a number or arrangement of syllables to (a word or verse)
2 : to express or utter in or as if in syllables
Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about syllable

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for syllable

Synonyms: Noun

beans, bubkes (also bupkes), continental, damn, darn (also durn), diddly [slang], diddly-squat [slang], doodley-squat (or doodly-squat), fig, ghost, hoot, iota, jot, lick, modicum, rap, squat [slang], tittle, whit, whoop

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of syllable in a Sentence

Noun

 The word “doctor” has two syllables. “Doctor” is a two-syllable word. The first syllable of the word “doctor” is given stress.
See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 Alice In Chains commanded the communal spirit right out of the box without any urging, the crowd singing every syllable of the first two songs. — Serene Dominic, azcentral, "Alice in Chains and Korn rock Phoenix on what could be called 'Unhappy Together' Tour," 1 Sep. 2019 But the Classic is bringing a lot more than just a ton of syllables to Canton. — Marc Bona, cleveland.com, "Why is the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic important?," 31 Aug. 2019 The generic name, dulaglutide, is more of a tongue twister, a seeming mishmash of syllables that’s probably impenetrable to most patients. — David Lazarus, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Where do generic drug names come from? Two women in Chicago, that’s where.," 24 July 2019 The generic name, dulaglutide, is more of a tongue twister, a seeming mishmash of syllables that’s probably impenetrable to most patients. — Los Angeles Times, "Column: Wonder where generic drug names come from? Two women in Chicago, that’s where," 23 July 2019 Every time Emma forgets or mispronounces an Esperanto word or syllable, Kuroda cracks her stick on a desk, floor or chalkboard and screams out for Emma to try again. — Joanne Engelhardt, The Mercury News, "Theater review: ‘Language Archive’ talks the talk," 18 July 2019 Only males call during courtship: the first part of the call establishes territory; the second syllable is meant to attract a mate. — Suzanne Roberts, Longreads, "The Offer of a Two-Night Stand, When Just One Would Do," 15 July 2019 Microsoft's learning tools also have incredible options for dyslexics, such as tools which read out text, break-up syllables and increase spaces between lines and letters. — Robyn Curnow, CNN, "The upside to dyslexia, even as a journalist," 6 June 2019 And yet, the syllables that tether my heritage to The Gambia seem strangely unable to make the voyage to my American life. — N'jameh Camara, Teen Vogue, "Names That Are Unfamiliar to You Aren't "Hard," They're "Unpracticed"," 12 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'syllable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of syllable

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for syllable

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French sillabe, silable, from Latin syllaba, from Greek syllabē, from syllambanein to gather together, from syn- + lambanein to take — more at latch

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for syllable

syllable

noun
How to pronounce syllable (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of syllable

: any one of the parts into which a word is naturally divided when it is pronounced

See the full definition for syllable in the English Language Learners Dictionary

syllable

noun
syl·​la·​ble | \ ˈsi-lə-bəl How to pronounce syllable (audio) \

Kids Definition of syllable

1 : a unit of spoken language that consists of one or more vowel sounds alone or with one or more consonant sounds coming before or following
2 : one or more letters (as syl, la, and ble) in a written word (as syl*la*ble) usually separated from the rest of the word by a centered dot or a hyphen and used as guides to the division of the word at the end of a line

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on syllable

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with syllable

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for syllable

Spanish Central: Translation of syllable

Nglish: Translation of syllable for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of syllable for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about syllable

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!