noun
syllable
SIHL-uh-buhl
noun
1
A unit of pronunciation formed around a single vowel sound, often making up part of a word.
"The word "banana" has three syllables."
"She stressed the second syllable when pronouncing his name."
How to Use Syllable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA beat or chunk of sound in a word — one push of breath, usually built around a vowel.
Common pairings
stressed syllable
count the syllables
a two-syllable word
Word Forms
syllabled past tense, syllables plural, syllables singular
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The word "banana" has three _____.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek syllabē, meaning "that which is taken together," from a root meaning "to gather."