THE SEVEN SYLLABLE THE SEVEN SYLLABLE TYPESTYPES

FIRST: FIRST: A REVIEW OF THE VOWEL A REVIEW OF THE VOWEL

SOUNDSSOUNDSEach syllable in our language has a Each syllable in our language has a

vowel sound.vowel sound.

LONG LONG vowels say their vowels say their NAMESNAMES. It’s . It’s that easy; just say the vowels and that easy; just say the vowels and you’ve said their LONG sound. Go you’ve said their LONG sound. Go ahead, do it!ahead, do it!

Now you’ve said the Now you’ve said the LONGLONG vowel vowel sounds!sounds!

SHORT VOWEL SOUNDSSHORT VOWEL SOUNDS

These clue words will remind you of the These clue words will remind you of the sounds that the sounds that the SHORTSHORT vowels say: vowels say:

A A aapple apple a E E eelephant elephant e I I iitch itch i O O ooctopus octopus o U U uup up u

You have to listen You have to listen VERYVERY carefully to hear the carefully to hear the differences between the short vowel differences between the short vowel sounds.sounds.

CLOSED SYLLABLECLOSED SYLLABLE

This syllable type is generally thought of This syllable type is generally thought of as as CVCCVC (consonant/vowel/consonant), (consonant/vowel/consonant), although it also includes although it also includes VCVC. It is a . It is a closed syllable because the consonant closed syllable because the consonant following the vowel keeps the vowel following the vowel keeps the vowel closed in. Therefore, the vowel sound is closed in. Therefore, the vowel sound is SHORTSHORT!!

Of course, these words can include Of course, these words can include consonant blends, as can all the syllable consonant blends, as can all the syllable types. types.

ExamplesExamples TapTap StrapStrap GabGab BatBat BratBrat AtAt GetGet PetPet FeltFelt PitPit BibBib RipRip In In

QuitQuit ItIt TopTop Stop Stop BobBob FoxFox OnOn PupPup UpUp CupCup ClubClub PuttPutt BuckBuck

OPEN VOWEL SYLLABLEOPEN VOWEL SYLLABLE

This syllable ends with a single vowel This syllable ends with a single vowel sound which makes it an sound which makes it an OPENOPEN syllable. (This DOES NOT include the syllable. (This DOES NOT include the silent e which does silent e which does NOTNOT make a make a sound.) sound.)

Open syllables usually make the vowel Open syllables usually make the vowel sound sound LONGLONG, especially in words , especially in words ending with Y. Of course, some OPEN ending with Y. Of course, some OPEN syllables have a syllables have a shortshort vowel sound. vowel sound. Just say the word and you’ll know if it’s Just say the word and you’ll know if it’s long or short.long or short.

ExamplesExamples MaMa AA PaPa SheShe MeMe BeBe TheThe II gogo

No No SoSo Do Do WhoWho ToTo MyMy FlyFly SkySky

VOWEL CONSONANT VOWEL CONSONANT SILENT ESILENT E

This syllable type has a vowel This syllable type has a vowel followed by a consonant followed by followed by a consonant followed by a silent e. The silent e makes the a silent e. The silent e makes the vowel sound vowel sound LONGLONG. It jumps over . It jumps over the consonant and makes the vowel the consonant and makes the vowel say its say its NAMENAME..

Note: This is Note: This is NOTNOT a common way to a common way to make a long E sound.make a long E sound.

ExamplesExamples NameName GateGate PlatePlate ApeApe BabeBabe Brake Brake SafeSafe GlideGlide TribeTribe WifeWife

BikeBike SpikeSpike JokeJoke CodeCode SpokeSpoke StoleStole WroteWrote CubeCube MuleMule RuleRule

VOWEL R SYLLABLEVOWEL R SYLLABLE

The Vowel R syllable contains a single The Vowel R syllable contains a single vowel followed by an R. It makes the vowel followed by an R. It makes the vowel sound change. It’s like the vowel vowel sound change. It’s like the vowel was glued to the R sound. We call these was glued to the R sound. We call these ““R-controlled vowelsR-controlled vowels.”.”

Note: This does Note: This does NOTNOT include vowel R include vowel R words that have a silent e at the end. words that have a silent e at the end. Look at the differences between Look at the differences between firfir and and firefire!!

ExamplesExamples CarCar CartCart PartPart StarStar HerHer HerdHerd GermGerm VerbVerb ClerkClerk FernFern StirStir

FirFir SirSir BirdBird ThirdThird CornCorn ThornThorn FormForm FurFur CurbCurb HurtHurt BurstBurst

VOWEL DIGRAPHSVOWEL DIGRAPHS

This syllable type consists of two vowels This syllable type consists of two vowels together and the first one istogether and the first one is LONG LONG (says its (says its name). You’ve heard the saying, “Two vowels name). You’ve heard the saying, “Two vowels go walking. The first one does the talking and go walking. The first one does the talking and it says its name.” Sometimes these are called it says its name.” Sometimes these are called “vowel teams” because they work together to “vowel teams” because they work together to make make ONEONE sound. sound.

Note: A Note: A digraphdigraph is two letters together that is two letters together that make ONE sound. Consonant digraphs are th, make ONE sound. Consonant digraphs are th, sh, wh, ch. Vowel digraphs are ai, oa, ea, ee, sh, wh, ch. Vowel digraphs are ai, oa, ea, ee, ie, aw, ay, ey, oo. They ALL make ie, aw, ay, ey, oo. They ALL make ONEONE sound. sound.

ExamplesExamples PaidPaid RainRain TailTail FailFail BrainBrain PaintPaint DrainDrain WaistWaist SaySay PayPay PeaPea

EachEach BleachBleach PeakPeak StreamStream BeeBee FreeFree SpeedSpeed GreedGreed SleepSleep DieDie PiePie

More ExamplesMore Examples ChiefChief PiecePiece LoadLoad LoanLoan FoamFoam RoamRoam OatOat CoatCoat DoeDoe ToeToe

KeyKey GrowGrow SnowSnow DrawDraw SawSaw LawnLawn StrawStraw PoolPool StoolStool LookLook TookTook

VOWEL DIPHTHONGSVOWEL DIPHTHONGS

This syllable type consists of two vowels This syllable type consists of two vowels together that together that slideslide in your mouth to in your mouth to make one unique sound. Sometimes make one unique sound. Sometimes these are called vowel these are called vowel sliderssliders or vowel or vowel glidersgliders..

The vowels that make up the sliders are The vowels that make up the sliders are oi, oy, ou, ow. Try saying “oi, oy, ou, ow. Try saying “oioi” as in ” as in ““oiloil”, or say “”, or say “ouou” as in “” as in “outout.” You can .” You can feel the vowel sounds feel the vowel sounds slideslide in your in your mouth.mouth.

ExamplesExamples OilOil BroilBroil FoilFoil SoilSoil SpoilSpoil BoyBoy ToyToy ployploy

OutOut AboutAbout SnoutSnout PoutPout CowCow NowNow HowHow BrownBrown TownTown ClownClown FrownFrown

Consonant L EConsonant L E

This syllable type is the only one that is This syllable type is the only one that is actually TWO syllables. These are two actually TWO syllables. These are two syllable words that END with a consonant syllable words that END with a consonant followed by an L followed by an E. The followed by an L followed by an E. The whole idea here is that you count back whole idea here is that you count back THREE letters from the end of the word. THREE letters from the end of the word. This shows you where to divide the word This shows you where to divide the word into TWO syllables. Then you can see if into TWO syllables. Then you can see if the syllable at the beginning of the word the syllable at the beginning of the word is OPEN or CLOSED.is OPEN or CLOSED.

ExamplesExamples BottleBottle TitleTitle RifleRifle SimpleSimple TrembleTremble BubbleBubble TableTable BridleBridle SaddleSaddle PuddlePuddle StableStable pebblepebble

Bot / tleBot / tle Ti / tleTi / tle Ri / fleRi / fle Sim / pleSim / ple Trem / bleTrem / ble Bub / bleBub / ble Ta / bleTa / ble Bri / dleBri / dle Sad / dleSad / dle Pud / dlePud / dle Sta / bleSta / ble Peb / blePeb / ble

THAT’S ITTHAT’S IT

Those are the seven syllable types. Of Those are the seven syllable types. Of course, there are some outlaw words course, there are some outlaw words (exceptions), but most of our words fit (exceptions), but most of our words fit these syllable types. Words can be these syllable types. Words can be divided into syllables that fit these divided into syllables that fit these syllable types. For example: protect – syllable types. For example: protect – propro is an open syllable (vowel is long) is an open syllable (vowel is long) and –and –tecttect is closed (vowel is short). is closed (vowel is short). This should help your reading and This should help your reading and spelling!spelling!

PracticePracticeIdentify the syllables in Identify the syllables in

these wordsthese words Hum/bleHum/ble Bar/terBar/ter Jel/lyJel/ly Or/derOr/der Cy/ber/spaceCy/ber/space Read/ingRead/ing Pow/derPow/der Re/sultRe/sult Hope/fulHope/ful Pie/crustPie/crust

Box/erBox/er Un/coilUn/coil Tree/topTree/top Pea/nutPea/nut Se/cretSe/cret Loud/estLoud/est But/terBut/ter Boat/ingBoat/ing Rain/dropRain/drop Joy/fulJoy/ful