A syllable is a unit of pronunciation that consists of a single vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants. It's the basic building block of words.
Here's a breakdown:
* Vowel Sound: Every syllable must have at least one vowel sound. This can be a single vowel (like "a" in "cat") or a combination of vowels (like "ai" in "rain").
* Consonants: Consonants can come before or after the vowel sound in a syllable.
Examples:
* "cat" has one syllable (the vowel sound is "a").
* "happy" has two syllables (the vowel sounds are "a" and "i").
* "elephant" has three syllables (the vowel sounds are "e", "e", and "a").
Why are syllables important?
Understanding syllables helps us:
* Pronounce words correctly.
* Break down long words into smaller, manageable parts.
* Understand the rhythm and flow of language.
* Learn new words more easily.
Let me know if you have any other questions about syllables!