Syllable Types

Open Syllable

• An open syllable has only one vowel.
• The vowel has a long sound (like the 'i' in line).
• The vowel is the last letter of the syllable.
• Open syllables have no more than one consonant between the open syllable and the next vowel.
• examples:  ba-by,  fe-male,  i-vy,  fro-zen,  & Cu-pid
• listen: how to pronounce baby

Closed Syllable

• A closed syllable has only one vowel.
• The vowel has a short sound (like the 'i' in mill).
• If the word is only 2 letters, it must end with a consonant.
• examples:  in, on, of, at, & it
• listen: how to pronounce in
• If the word is 3+ letters, a closed syllable has 1 consonant before and 1 (or more) consonants after the vowel.
• examples:  cat, catch, net, nest, web, man, roll, & bark
• listen: how to pronounce cat
• If a word has 2 closed syllables next to each other, there will be two consonants between the vowels.
• examples:  win-ter, sum-mer, com-mon, & tem-per
listen: how to pronounce winter

R-Controlled Syllable

• A vowel, diphthong, or triphthong that has an "r" or a "re" ("r" with a silent "e") after it.
• examples:  deer, whis-per, worth, care, & fire
• listen: how to pronounce deer
• R-controlled vowels are usually pronounced in a different way because they are "controlled" by the r.
• er, ur, & ir vowels sound like the er in "her"
• examples:  per, fur, her, birth, shirt, & hurt
• listen: how to pronounce per

• some ar vowels sound like the ar in "far"
• examples:  par, far, car, & star
• listen: how to pronounce par
• other ar vowels sound like the ar in "share"
• examples:  pair, hare, hair, & stare
• listen: how to pronounce pair
• or vowels sound like the or in "for"
• examples:  or, for, floor, & door
• listen: how to pronounce or

Vowel Team Syllable

• A group of 2 to 4 letters, usually vowels, which make a single vowel sound.
• If a vowel team is made of 2 vowels, usually only the first vowel is pronounced.
• examples:  rain, fail, suit, & clean
• listen: how to pronounce rain
• A vowel team can create a long or short vowel sound.
• examples:  toast, look, saw, feel, wear, & bread
• listen: how to pronounce toast
• If a vowel team syllable has a consonant in it, the vowel is usually pronounced differently from normal vowels.
• examples:  walk, loud, sound, though, te-di-ous, tight, & straw
• listen: how to pronounce walk
• Fun fact:  Vowels teams are usually old words whose pronunciation changed over long periods of time. They're only learned through practice and recognition.