Here's a breakdown:
* Vowel Sound: A syllable always has a vowel sound at its core. This sound is produced by the free flow of air through your mouth, without any obstruction.
* Consonants: Consonants are sounds that involve a partial obstruction of airflow. They can come before or after the vowel sound in a syllable.
Examples:
* "cat" has one syllable (cat)
* "table" has two syllables (ta-ble)
* "butterfly" has three syllables (but-ter-fly)
Syllables are important because:
* They help us to understand the pronunciation of words.
* They are a fundamental unit in poetry and music.
* They play a role in learning to read and spell.
Let me know if you have any other questions!