How many syllables are in 'sunflower'?

How many syllables are in 'sunflower'?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. One

Answer: (B)

Counting syllables comes down to listening for each vowel sound or beat in a word. Say “sunflower” slowly and you’ll hear three distinct parts: sun, flow, er. Each part centers on a vowel sound, so there are three syllables. A quick check is to clap for each part: sun (clap), flow (clap), er (clap). It isn’t just one syllable, and it isn’t two, because there are three vowel sounds in the word: sun, flow, and er. Even though “flower” as a separate word has two syllables, together with “sun” it adds up to three.

Counting syllables comes down to listening for each vowel sound or beat in a word. Say “sunflower” slowly and you’ll hear three distinct parts: sun, flow, er. Each part centers on a vowel sound, so there are three syllables. A quick check is to clap for each part: sun (clap), flow (clap), er (clap). It isn’t just one syllable, and it isn’t two, because there are three vowel sounds in the word: sun, flow, and er. Even though “flower” as a separate word has two syllables, together with “sun” it adds up to three.