Syllable
/ˈsɪl.ə.bəl/noun
A unit of speech that contains a vowel sound and may also include surrounding consonants.
Did you know?The word 'syllable' traces back to roots meaning 'to take together', hinting at how sounds unite to form the essence of speech!
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
συλλαβή (syllabē)
“A taking together or a gathering of sounds.”
Latin
Latin
syllaba
“A grouping of letters or sounds.”
Old French
Old French
silabe
“A unit of sound in speech.”
Middle English
English
sillable
“A part of a word, indicating a division of speech.”
Modern English
English
syllable
“A distinct unit of sound in language, central to the structure of words.”