It would seem that for any person who has learned to read, there is nothing easier than dividing words into syllables. In practice, it turns out that this is not such an easy task, moreover, in order to correctly complete this task, you need to know some of the nuances. If you think about it, not everyone can even give a clear answer to a simple question: “What is a syllable?”

So what is a syllable?

As you know, every word consists of syllables, which, in turn, consist of letters. However, for a combination of letters to be a syllable, it must necessarily contain one vowel, which in itself can constitute a syllable. It is generally accepted that a syllable is the smallest spoken unit of speech or, more simply, a sound / sound combination pronounced in one breath. For example, the word "I-blo-ko". To pronounce it, you need to exhale three times, which means that this word consists of three syllables.

In our language, one syllable cannot contain more than one vowel. Therefore, how many vowels in a word - so many syllables. Vowels are syllabic sounds (create a syllable), while consonants are non-syllabic (cannot form a syllable).

Theories of the syllable

There are as many as four theories trying to explain what a syllable is.

• exhalation theory. One of the most ancient. According to her, the number of syllables in a word is equal to the number of exhalations made during its pronunciation.
• acoustic theory. It implies that a syllable is a combination of sounds with high and low volume. The vowel is louder, so it is able to both independently form a syllable and attract consonants to itself, like less loud sounds.
• articulatory theory. In this theory, the syllable is presented as the result of muscle tension, which increases towards the vowel and falls towards the consonant.
• Dynamic theory. Explains the syllable as a complex phenomenon influenced by a number of factors listed in previous theories.

It is worth noting that each of the above theories has its drawbacks, however, as well as advantages, and none of them has been able to fully characterize the nature of the concept of "syllable".

Types of syllables

A word can consist of a different number of syllables - from one or more. It all depends on the vowels, for example: “sleep” is one syllable, “sno-vi-de-ni-e” is five. In this category, they are divided into monosyllabic and polysyllabic.

If there is more than one syllable in the composition of the word, then one of them is stressed, and it is called stressed (when pronounced, it is distinguished by the length and strength of the sound), and all the others are unstressed.

Depending on what sound the syllable ends with, they are open (vowel) and closed (consonant). For example, the word "for-water". In this case, the first syllable is open, as it ends in the vowel "a", while the second is closed because it ends in the consonant "d".

How to separate words into syllables?

First of all, it is worth clarifying that the division of words into phonetic syllables does not always coincide with the division for transfer. So, according to the rules of transfer, one letter cannot be separated, even if it is a vowel and is a syllable. However, if the word is divided into syllables, according to the rules of division, then a vowel not surrounded by consonants will make up one full-fledged syllable. For example: in the word “yu-la” there are phonetically two syllables, but this word will not be separated during transfer.

As stated above, there are exactly as many syllables in a word as there are vowels. One vowel sound can act as a syllable, but if it has more than one sound, then such a syllable will necessarily begin with a consonant. The above example - the word "yu-la" - is divided in this way, and not "yul-a". This example demonstrates how the second vowel "a" attracts "l" to itself.

If there are several consonants in a row in the middle of a word, they belong to the next syllable. This rule applies to cases with the same consonants, and to cases with different non-syllabic sounds. The word "o-tcha-i-n" illustrates both options. The letter "a" in the second syllable attracted a combination of different consonants - "tch", and "s" - double "nn". There is one exception to this rule - for unpaired non-syllable sounds. If the voiced consonant (y, l, l, m, m, n, n, p, p) is the first in the letter combination, then it is separated along with the previous vowel. In the word "flask" the letter "n" refers to the first syllable, as it is an unpaired voiced consonant. And in the previous example - “o-tcha-ya-ny” - “n” moved to the beginning of the next syllable, according to general rule, since it was a paired sonorant.

Sometimes letter combinations of consonants in a letter mean several letters, but sound like one sound. In such cases, the division of the word into syllables and the division for hyphenation will be different. Since the combination means one sound, then these letters should not be separated when divided into syllables. However, when transferring such letter combinations are separated. For example, the word “i-zjo-ga” has three syllables, but when transferred, this word will be divided as “izzho-ga”. In addition to the letter combination “zzh”, pronounced as one long sound [zh:], this rule also applies to combinations “ts” / “ts”, in which “ts” / “ts” sound like [ts]. For example, it is correct to divide “u-chi-tsya” without breaking “ts”, but when transferring, it will be “learn-sya”.

As already noted in previous section, the syllable is open and closed. There are much fewer closed syllables in Russian. As a rule, they are only at the end of the word: "hacker". In rare cases closed syllables may be in the middle of a word, provided that the syllable ends in an unpaired sonorant: “bag”, but “bu-dka”.

How to separate words for hyphenation

Having dealt with the question of what a syllable is, what types of them are, and how to divide them into them, it is worth paying attention to the rules of word hyphenation. After all, with external similarity, these two processes do not always lead to the same result.

When dividing a word for transfer, the same principles are used as in the usual division into syllables, but it is worth paying attention to a number of nuances.

It is strictly forbidden to tear off one letter from a word, even if it is a syllable-forming vowel. This prohibition also applies to the transfer of a group of consonants without a vowel, with a soft sign or y. For example, “a-ni-me” is divided into syllables like this, but it can only be transferred in this way: “ani-me”. As a result, when transferring, two syllables come out, although in reality there are three.

If two or more consonants are nearby, they can be divided at your discretion: “te-kstu-ra” or “tek-stu-ra”.

With paired consonants between vowels, they are separated, except when these letters are part of the root at the junction with a suffix or prefix: “classes”, but “classy”. The same principle applies to the consonant at the end of the word root before the suffix - of course, it is possible to tear off letters from the root during transfer, but it is undesirable: "Kyiv-sky". Similarly, with regard to the prefix: the last consonant included in its composition cannot be torn off: “under-creep”. If the root begins with a vowel, you can either still separate the prefix itself, or transfer two syllables of the root together with it: “accident-free”, “accident-free”.

Abbreviations cannot be transferred, but compound words can, but only in terms of components.

ABC by syllables

The syllable has a huge practical value when teaching children to read. From the very beginning, students learn letters and syllables, which of them can be combined. And later, from syllables, children learn to gradually build words. At first, children are taught to read words from simple open syllables - “ma”, “mo”, “mu” and the like, and soon the task is complicated. Most primers and manuals devoted to this issue are built according to this technique.

Moreover, especially for the development of the ability to read in syllables, some children's books are published with texts divided into syllables. This facilitates the process of reading and contributes to bringing the ability to recognize syllables to automatism.

In itself, the concept of "syllable" is not yet fully studied subject of linguistics. However, its practical importance is difficult to overestimate. After all, this small part of the word helps not only to learn reading and writing rules, but also helps to understand many grammatical rules. We should also not forget that, thanks to the syllable, there is poetry. After all, the main systems for creating rhymes are based precisely on the properties of this tiny phonetic-phonological unit. And although there are a lot of theories and studies devoted to it, the question of what a syllable is remains open.

Many children go to preschool, which prepares your child for school. Here they play with them and conduct daily classes aimed at general development child. Before school, the teacher already introduces the children to letters, the difference between vowel and consonant, voiced and hissing.

How to teach a child to divide words into syllables

Education in kindergartens is usually carried out in game form. First, the children are explained that each item has its own name. The guys say this word aloud, and the teacher writes it down on the board, separating the syllables with a hyphen. To teach a child to divide words into syllables, it is necessary that he understand the difference between a vowel and a consonant, and that each syllable contains a vowel and one or two consonants.

There are several ways to learn how to divide words into syllables:

• using cards with syllables, which are inserted into special pockets in kindergarten. Dividing words into syllables by children is absorbed faster and easier;
• incomplete word game. This means that the adult pronounces the beginning of the word, for example, "FOR", and the child is offered to finish it, for example, "BOR";
• ball game. You also name the beginning of the word and throw the ball to the child, and he, in turn, must catch it and supplement it with some suitable ending;
• "confusion". An adult picks up 4 syllables and deliberately makes 2 words incorrectly, invites a small student to “correct” adult mistakes, for example, “MAPA”, but you need to make the correct “MAMA” and “PAPA”. This is one of the most better ways learning to learn how to read syllables quickly, and understand the principle of division.

How to teach a child to connect letters into syllables

In order for the child to be able to combine letters into syllables, it is necessary to fully study all the letters in the alphabet, as well as distinguish between a vowel and a consonant. As soon as you see that it is time for your student to learn how to connect syllables, feel free to move on to learning.

For the first time, conduct the lesson in a playful way so that the baby can be interested, then explain that letters can be folded into syllables. Syllables are open when the sound "MA" begins with a consonant letter, and closed when the sound comes with a vowel, for example, "AM".

How to teach a child to read syllables together

When a child alone, without the help of adults, learns to add syllables, you can begin to teach how to read syllables together.

Starting from the first year of the child's education, the teacher, according to the approved school curriculum, spends a lot of reading technique classes. It is very important that the first grader is already prepared for this educational process: whether he reads well or badly, but the child needs to learn how to read syllables together before 6-7 years old.

Here are some effective quick learning rules:

1. It is necessary to read with a child constantly, starting from 2-3 years of age. The parent must allocate time for this at least once a day, preferably before bedtime.
2. Take an interesting book that your baby loves with bright illustrations to interest the baby.
3. When the child is older (4-5 years old), move on to getting to know the letters.
4. Take a primer (for example, Zhukova N.S.). Learn 1-2 letters every day.
5. After the baby remembers the entire alphabet, start introducing syllables, how to divide words into syllables, how they are connected. You can do this in a playful way, when the letter "M" "hurries" to the letter "A", and say out loud "MMMAAA".
6. Start with easy short words: dad, mom, cat, hand, and so on.

How to teach a child to speak syllables

A parent, in the process of teaching his child, can independently analyze the level of preparation of a small student for school: how he can talk, whether he builds logical sentences, whether he knows all the letters of the alphabet, whether he can speak syllables, whether he has difficulty dividing words into syllables.

Regular activities with the child are very important. The kid must correctly name objects, pronounce sounds clearly. Regular exercises at home with a parent in conjunction with classes in kindergarten- all this in combination will greatly facilitate the education in the primary grades of your young student.

N a h i t

nA - at - hAndTb This script allows you to divide words into syllables. Remember that the rules for separating words into syllables and the rules for hyphenation are different rules.

How to break a word into syllables

1. In Russian, there are sounds that are different in audibility: vowels are more sonorous compared to consonants. It is vowels that form syllables, are syllable-forming. A syllable is one sound or several sounds pronounced with one expiratory push of air: vo-yes, na-y-ka.
There are as many syllables in a word as there are vowels.
Consonants are non-syllabic. When pronouncing a word, consonants "stretch" to vowels, forming a syllable together with vowels.

2. The syllable may consist of one sound (and then it is necessarily a vowel) or several sounds (in this case, in addition to the vowel, there is a consonant or a group of consonants in the syllable): rim - o-bo-doc; country - country; night light - night light; miniature - mi-ni-a-tu-ra. If a syllable consists of two or more sounds, then it must begin with a consonant.

3. Syllables are open and closed.
An open syllable ends in a vowel sound: water, country.
A closed syllable ends in a consonant: sleep, liner.
There are more open syllables in Russian. Closed syllables are usually observed at the end of a word: no-chnik (the first syllable is open, the second is closed), o-bo-dok (the first two syllables are open, the third is closed).
In the middle of a word, a syllable, as a rule, ends in a vowel sound, and a consonant or a group of consonants after a vowel usually goes to the next syllable: no-chnik, announcer.
In the middle of a word, closed syllables can form only unpaired voiced consonants [th], [p], [p'], [l], [l'], [m], [m'], [n], [n'] (sonorous): may-ka, Sonya-ka, so-scrap-ka.

4. Sometimes two consonants can be written in a word, and one sound, for example: get rid of [izh: yt ']. Therefore, in this case, two syllables are distinguished: and-live. The division into parts from-live corresponds to the rules of word hyphenation, and not to division into syllables.
The same can be traced on the example of the verb to leave, in which the combination of consonants zzh sounds like one sound [zh:]; so the division into syllables will be - leave, and the division of the word to carry - leave.
Especially often errors are observed when syllables are distinguished from forms of verbs ending in -tsya, -tsya.
The division curl-sya, presses-sya is a division into parts for transfer, and not a division into syllables, since in such forms the combination of letters ts, ts sounds like one sound [ts].
When dividing into syllables, the combinations of the letters ts, ts go entirely to the next syllable: vi-tsya, zhmo-tsya.

5. When combining several consonants in the middle of a word: two identical consonants necessarily go to the next syllable: o-leak, yes; two or more consonants usually go to the next syllable: sha-pka, equal. The exception is consonant combinations in which the first is an unpaired voiced (sonorant): the letters p, p, l, l, m, m, n, n, y: mark-ka, dawn-ka, bul-ka, stel-ka, lady-ka, ban-ka, ban-ka, lay-ka.

The problem of dividing words into syllables in the Russian language is one of the most difficult in modern linguistics and has not been fully resolved. This is due to the lack of a common understanding of the essence of the syllable. The inability to fix the signs of a syllable as a whole, the phonetic inexpressibility of the boundary between syllables leads some linguists to the idea that there is no syllable division in the Russian language at all.

Now there are two main theories of syllables: R. I. Avanesova (Moscow Phonological School) and L. V. Shcherba (Leningrad Phonological School). The rules for division into syllables in these two theories are somewhat different. The Leningrad school divides into syllables in the way that is habitual to the ear of a Soviet citizen and as was previously taught in all Russian schools(and therefore its rules are called by the people "old"), and Moscow is completely different ("new rules").

But since at the moment none of these schools has refuted the other, the rules of syllable division can be formulated differently in different textbooks, depending on the position of which phonological school the author of the textbook shares.

If earlier we divided words into syllables and transferred these words according to the same rule, we adhered to Shcherba's theory. In Avanesov's theory, these processes are controlled by 2 different rules and the division of a word into syllables often does not coincide with the division into parts of a word (prefix, root, suffix, ending) and with the division of a word for transfer. So, the word cat should be divided into syllables according to Shcherba's theory like this: cat-ka, according to Avanesov's theory like this: cat-shka.

For example, the word calculated divided into morphemes calculated(ras - prefix, count - root; a, nn - suffixes; th - ending).

The same word, when transferred, is divided as follows: calculated.

According to Avanesov, the word is divided into syllables as follows: calculated.

"Old" rules of division into syllables. Leningrad School Shcherba L.V.

1. Words are divided into syllables. There are as many syllables in a word as there are vowels in it.

2. The sound й does not form a syllable; it cannot be separated from the preceding vowel. Example: Lei-ka, May-ka, sing-te, build-ka.

3. You can not tear off the letters b and b from the previous consonant. Example: sit down, strong, porch, entrance.

4. You can not separate the consonant from the vowel following it. It is necessary to divide words into syllables like this: kar-tin-ka, re-bya-ta, ka-lit-ka, la-ger.

5. If there are 2 consonants in a row in a word, the syllable division passes between them. If there are more than 2 consonants in a row, the syllable section actually goes in the way that is more convenient to pronounce. Examples: holiday - day, sun.

"New" rules for dividing words into syllables in the Russian language (Moscow school. Litnevskaya E.I. Russian language: A short theoretical course for schoolchildren. M., 2006)

1. There are as many syllables in a word as there are vowels; two vowels cannot be within the same syllable.

A syllable is one sound or several sounds pronounced with one expiratory push of air: vo-yes, na-y-ka. Consonants are non-syllabic. When pronouncing a word, consonants "stretch" to vowels, forming a syllable together with vowels.

2. The syllable may consist of one sound (and then it is necessarily a vowel) or several sounds (in this case, in addition to the vowel, there is a consonant or a group of consonants in the syllable): rim - o-bo-doc; country - country; night light - night light; miniature - mi-ni-a-tu-ra.

3. Syllables are open and closed.

An open syllable ends in a vowel sound: water, country.

A closed syllable ends in a consonant: sleep, liner.

There are more open syllables in Russian. Closed syllables are usually observed at the end of a word: no-chnik (the first syllable is open, the second is closed), o-bo-dok (the first two syllables are open, the third is closed).

In the middle of a word, a syllable, as a rule, ends in a vowel sound, and a consonant or a group of consonants after a vowel usually goes to the next syllable: no-chnik, announcer.

In the middle of a word, closed syllables can form only unpaired voiced consonants [th], [p], [p'], [l], [l'], [m], [m'], [n], [n'] (sonorous): may-ka, Sonya-ka, so-scrap-ka.

4. Sometimes two consonants can be written in a word, and one sound, for example: get rid of [izh: yt ']. Therefore, in this case, two syllables are distinguished: and-to live. The division into parts from-live corresponds to the rules of word hyphenation, and not to division into syllables.

The same can be traced on the example of the verb to leave, in which the combination of consonants zzh sounds like one sound [zh:]; therefore, the division into syllables will be - y-e-give, and the division of the word for transfer - leave-reap.

Especially often errors are observed when syllables are distinguished from forms of verbs ending in -tsya, -tsya. The division curl-sya, presses-sya is a division into parts for transfer, and not a division into syllables, since in such forms the combination of letters ts, ts sounds like one sound [ts]. When dividing into syllables, the combinations of the letters ts, ts go entirely to the next syllable: vi-tsya, zhmo-tsya.

5. When combining several consonants in the middle of a word:

Two identical consonants necessarily go to the next syllable: o-leak, yes;

Two or more consonants usually go to the next syllable: sha-pka, equal.
The exception is consonant combinations in which the first is an unpaired voiced (sonorant): the letters p, p, l, l, m, m, n, n: mar-ka, dawn-ka, bul-ka, insole-ka, lady- ka, ban-ka, ban-ka. That is, if a sonorous consonant is followed by a paired consonant in deafness / voicedness, the syllable boundary passes between them. Example: Spar-so.

If after й any other consonant follows, the syllable boundary passes between them: lay-ka, lay-ner.

To summarize the rule more intelligibly:

Words are "chopped" into syllables after each vowel. How many vowels, so many syllables.

BUT: if after the vowel there are p, p, l, l, m, m, n, n and behind them there is also a paired consonant, they (sonor and sonorant with b) go to the previous syllable; if after й there is any other consonant, й departs to the previous syllable.

If these consonants are 2 identical (nn, mm, ll ..., 2 any sonorous, paired, first paired then unpaired), they go to the next syllable.

In order not to get confused, refresh your head and transfer rules >>

How to determine how many syllables are in a word? There are as many syllables in a word as there are vowels in it.

Examples of words with one syllable: sound, wolf, class, goose, hedgehog, elephant, beetle, spruce, beast, snake, table, mushroom, leaf, door, chair, house, elk, speech, stump, bison, cat, edge.
Examples of words with two syllables: answer, vowel, bear, pit, stork, lesson, language, hare, hares, anchor, hedgehog, autumn, spinning top, walnut, snake, fox, hawk, friends, kettle, squirrel, wasp, long, blow, Russian, window, Yura, watermelon, seagull, iron, willow, Christmas tree, notebook, carrot, fire, duck, skates, ear, school, bee, fly, June, box, blizzard, hoarfrost, boy, glass, days, fairy tale, blizzard, Julia, Yasha, deer, sun, family.
Words with 3 syllables: teacher, cucumber, harvest, berry, what, apple, vegetables, sparrow, consonant, parrot, student, shock, trees, pencil, Maria, alphabet, butterfly, line, saucepan, Russia, large, copybook, alley, Christmas tree.
Words with four syllables: monkey, bicycle, acacia.
Words with 5 syllables: stress, mathematics, literature, white-headed.

Shall we practice dividing into syllables?

How many syllables are in the word sound? 1 vowel means 1 syllable sound.

How many syllables are in the word CUCUMBER? 3 vowels means 3 syllables: o|gu|rets, the word is divided into syllables equally according to the "old" and "new" rules.

How many syllables are in the word teacher? 3 vowels, means 3 syllables: u|chi|tel, the word is divided into syllables equally according to the "old" and "new" rules.

How many syllables are in the word ANSWER? 2 vowels means 2 syllables. According to Shcherba's theory, we divide into syllables as an answer, according to Avanesov, an answer.

How many syllables are in the word vowel? 2 vowels means 2 syllables. According to Shcherba we divide the vowel, according to Avanesov we divide the vowel.

We will be happy to help you divide any word into syllables. Ask your questions in the comments.

In this section, we will practice dividing words into syllables. (Don't confuse it with word division for hyphenation, which is discussed in another section. These are somewhat different things, as there are certain rules for word hyphenation.)

Dividing words into syllables

The ability to divide words into syllables is a very important skill that is desirable to acquire even before entering the first grade. Children who have learned to read by syllables, respectively, have fewer problems. But still there are.

Imagine, the child is already reading smoothly, we taught him what letters are - vowels and consonants, taught him to count the letters in a word, and then began to approach the transfer of words, and again returned to syllables. In this situation, children often get confused, and instead of dividing into syllables, they divide the word by letter.

How to teach a child to divide words into syllables? There are many ways to do this.

Rules for dividing words into syllables

• syllables are always formed with vowels, That's why, how many vowels in a word, the same number of syllables. A syllable can consist of one vowel, but there are no syllables without vowels. Examples: mo-lo-ko, yo-zhik, etc.
• If a syllable consists of several letters, then it always begins with a consonant.(The exception is cases when the previous syllable ends in Y: district)

Previously, the rules for division into syllables and for hyphenation were the same, except that you could not hyphenate or leave one letter on a line. The new rules for dividing into syllables, which children are learning now, are much more complicated, and, most importantly, differ from the division of words for transfer. This is especially true for words with several consonants in the middle of a word. We shared: cat, ok, classes, etc.

According to the new rules, only sonorant consonants (m, n, l, p, m, l, n, p) and Y "stick" to the first syllable, in other cases all consonants "depart" to the second syllable. For example: krom-ka, ban-ka, ban-ka, may-ka, but: sha-pka, equal, etc.

Two identical consonants, when divided into syllables, necessarily go to the second syllable: yes,

o-leak. At the same time, the division of the same words for transfer will be different - given, from-leak, hat, etc.

In any case, you need to constantly train to divide words into syllables, especially if there are problems with this. Syllables can be sung, chanted, like in a stadium. It helps to “clap” the words with your hands. Often speech therapists and teachers advise putting the back of the hand under the chin, and pronounce the word out loud, while the chin touches the hand with each syllable.

We offer you an online game-simulator "Dividing words into syllables". In it, you need to drag the separator lines onto the word. Such tasks are often found in Russian language tests in the 1st grade. In this game we will divide words into syllables. In the next section, we'll practice dividing hyphenation words.