Syllable Types

Disclaimer : “Some links in this post are affiliate links. I earn a small commission if you purchase through them, with no extra charge to you.”

What is Syllable?

Count the number of sounds in hear in a word (do not count letters). Syllable is single unit of sound. A word may have one syllable , two or more. Cat is single sound unit word, tiger has two units of sound /ti/ /ger/.  Every syllable has a vowel in it.

Syllable Count

To count syllables, put your hand under your chin to count how many times your mouth opens when you say a word. For example for the word planet our mouth opens two times /pla/ /net/.

Generally number of syllables in a word is equal to number of vowel sounds in the word. Remember its vowel sound not vowel.

There are 6 six syllable types.

1. Closed Syllable
2. Open Syllable
3.  Vowel Consonant e
4. R Controlled Vowel
5. Vowel Team
6. Consonant- le

1. Closed Syllable

Syllable which has a short vowel and ends with consonant is closed syllable. Such as sat, hit , jam.

2. Open syllable

A syllable which ends with vowel and the vowel has long sound. For example Hi, Me,

3. Vowel Consonant e

This syllable type is also called as magic e syllable. This syllable ends with letter e and the vowel preceding e takes long sound.

4. R Controlled Vowel

This syllable have vowel followed by letter r  such as ar er ir or ur. Here the vowel sound is controlled by r. Therefore we say r controlled vowel. For example /tri/ in Triangle, /pur/ in Purple.

5. Vowel Team

This syllable which has two vowels. For exmaple Heat, Book, Seed.

6. Consonant-le

This syllable which has consonant le pattern in the end. For example /ple/ in Sample, /cle/ in Miracle.

To divide any word into smaller sound units called syllables we should learn syllable division rule.

Here the complete anchor chart showing syllable types.

/

When children are learning the 44 sounds in English, it’s important to make the process as clear and engaging as possible. Simply explaining the sounds isn’t always enough—kids need visual support and hands-on practice. That’s why many teachers (and even schools) rely on Jolly Phonics Picture Flash Cards

Jolly Phonics Picture Flash Cards: In Precursive Letters – A Must-Have for Phonics Learning

These flashcards are not only larger and sturdier than most, but they also help children connect each sound with a picture. This makes learning stick faster and builds a strong foundation for reading and writing. I personally find them very useful because they are durable enough for daily practice and fun for kids to use again and again. In terms of learning, these flashcards are fantastic for teaching phonics sounds in English. Repetitive use helps children build a strong foundation in reading and writing. Since phonics is such an important first step in learning English, having a durable and engaging set of flashcards really makes the process easier and more fun for kids.

If you’re a parent or teacher looking to strengthen phonics skills, I’d highly recommend these flashcards. They’re practical, long-lasting, and effective – definitely worth adding to your teaching toolkit.

Learning the 44 sounds in English is the foundation of strong literacy skills. When children understand these sounds, they can read new words with confidence and spell with greater accuracy. With consistent practice, patience, and encouragement, every child can build a solid base that will support their lifelong journey in reading and writing.