Here's a breakdown:
* Vowel sound is essential: Every syllable must have at least one vowel sound.
* Consonants are optional: Consonants can come before or after the vowel sound.
* Syllables are distinct: They are separate units of pronunciation within a word.
Examples:
* "cat" has one syllable (the vowel sound is "a").
* "happy" has two syllables (the vowel sounds are "a" and "i").
* "umbrella" has four syllables (the vowel sounds are "u", "e", "e", and "a").
Think of it this way: each time you open your mouth to make a distinct sound, you're likely creating a syllable.