A syllable is a unit of pronunciation that consists of a single vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants.
Here's a breakdown:
* Vowel sound: The core of a syllable is a vowel sound (like "a," "e," "i," "o," "u," or combinations like "oi" or "ow").
* Consonants: Consonants can come before or after the vowel sound, but they are not essential to a syllable.
Examples:
* Cat: One syllable (the vowel sound is "a").
* Butter: Two syllables ("but" and "ter").
* Elephant: Three syllables ("el," "e," and "phant").
Understanding syllables is important for:
* Pronunciation: Knowing where to place emphasis in words.
* Reading: Helping to break down words into smaller units.
* Poetry: Used for rhythm and meter.
Let me know if you have any other questions!