syllable

1 of 2

noun

syl·la·ble ˈsi-lə-bəl

: 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

: 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

: the smallest conceivable expression or unit of something : jot

: sol-fa syllables

syllable

2 of 2

verb

syllabled; syllabling ˈsi-lə-b(ə-)liŋ

transitive verb

: to give a number or arrangement of syllables to (a word or verse)

: to express or utter in or as if in syllables

Example Sentences

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

Guesses at sounds and syllable counts were no more likely to be right in a TOT state than otherwise. —

Matthew Hutson, Scientific American, 1 June 2023 This racist phenomenon has been coined patanking by Indian-American actress Sakina Jaffrey—the blending of thousands of dialects into one accent by overstressing certain syllables or exchanging vs and ws. —

Isha Sharma, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 May 2023 Instead of the traditional hip-hop group format of trading verses, Migos basically traded syllables, punctuating each other’s verses and flows with shouted interjections, ad-libs, onomatopoeia or just noises. —

Jem Aswad, Variety, 24 May 2023 The syllables hung in the air as people waited for someone to walk up to the stage. —

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023 Both sometimes access a posh, low, slightly unnatural register for emphasis, and both speak with a pleasing but idiosyncratic cadence, clipping some syllables and drawing others out. —

Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 16 May 2023 For example: In the van — the gray — the interior gray — sky gray — world gray — the cold of his hand — he — splayed — the coolness of his forehead — kissing the stubble of his forehead — kissing and muttering — same three syllables — waiting for warmth to return. —

Dan Musgrave, Longreads, 9 May 2023 The more Berninger held his notes, the longer the vowels got, leaving fewer syllables in a line and thus less space for the jocosity and mystery of his words. —

James Robins, Vulture, 1 May 2023 The chicks’ songs began as single tones, like syllables, represented as colored dots. —

Burkhard Bilger, The New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'syllable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of syllable was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Syllable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syllable. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.

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Kids Definition

syllable

noun

syl·la·ble

ˈsil-ə-bəl

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

: 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