How to count spoken syllables

Open the nine interactive questions ↓

A syllable is a beat you hear when you say a word. Say the whole word naturally, then clap once for each beat. Count sounds, not letters. This activity uses English words and is intended for a child working with an adult.

Try these three examples

• Goldfish: 2 syllables. Say “gold-fish”: one clap for gold and one for fish.
• Crab: 1 syllable. The whole word has one beat. Do not add a vowel after the final b.
• Seashell: 2 syllables. Say “sea-shell”: two beats, even though the word contains eight letters.

Helping without giving the answer

Say the word once, ask your child to repeat it, and clap together. Then let them choose 1, 2 or 3 in the activity. If they count letters, return to speaking before looking at the spelling. Pronunciation can vary: use the word as spoken in the exercise and explain any difference rather than treating an accent as a mistake.

The examples above work without JavaScript. The interactive questions require JavaScript and give feedback after each answer. This is practice, not a reading assessment.

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