syllable

1 of 2

noun

syl·​la·​ble ˈsi-lə-bəl 

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

2 of 2

verb

syllabled; syllabling ˈsi-lə-b(ə-)liŋ 

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

Noun

• beans
• bubkes
• bupkes
• bupkus
• continental
• damn
• darn
• durn
• diddly [slang]
• diddly-squat [slang]
• doodley-squat
• doodly-squat
• fig
• ghost
• hoot
• iota
• jot
• lick
• modicum
• rap
• squat [slang]
• tittle
• whit
• whoop

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Because the stress is always on a word’s first syllable, the language also has a cozy regularity, like a horse clopping down a road. —Julia Whelan Emma Kehlbeck Jeremy McLennan, New York Times, 2 May 2025

The poem’s individual words and syllables bob like a string of harbor buoys. —A.o. Scott, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

Eliot has long been Stiles’ favorite poet, and her version mirrors the original in its number of lines, syllables and stanzas. —Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

For languages with a non-Roman writing system, Busuu spends time teaching you the sounds of each letter or syllable and how to write them. —PC Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing syllable

• in words of one syllable
• open syllable

Rhymes for syllable

• billable
• tillable
• monosyllable

Kids Definition

syllable

noun

syl·​la·​ble

ˈsil-ə-bəl

1

: a unit of spoken language that consists of one or more vowel sounds alone or with one or more consonant sounds preceding or following

2

: one or more letters (as syl, la, and ble) in a word (as syl*la*ble) usually set off from the rest of the word by a centered dot or a hyphen and treated as guides to division at the end of a line