Syllable Types and Splitting Words

One beat at a time

A syllable is one beat in a word. Every syllable has one vowel sound. Long words are just lots of little beats joined together. When we split them up, big words become easy to read!

Clap to count

The easiest way to count syllables is to clap as you say a word. One clap for each beat.

• cat → cat 👏 (1 beat) 🐱
• rab-bit → rab 👏 bit 👏 (2 beats) 🐰
• ba-na-na → ba 👏 na 👏 na 👏 (3 beats) 🍌

Put your hand under your chin. Each time your chin drops, that is one syllable!

Splitting between two consonants

When two consonants sit in the middle of a word, we usually split between them.

• rabbit → rab-bit 🐰
• basket → bas-ket 🧺
• napkin → nap-kin 🍽️

The quiet helper: -le

Many words end in a consonant plus le, like table. That le grabs the consonant before it to make the last beat.

• table → ta-ble 🪑
• apple → ap-ple 🍎
• little → lit-tle 🐜

A little word list

Clap and split these words out loud:

• cat 🐱 (1)
• rabbit 🐰 (2)
• table 🪑 (2)
• banana 🍌 (3)
• elephant 🐘 (3)
• butterfly 🦋 (3)

Play the games below to count the beats!

When you can split words, you are reading like a pro. Keep practising with consonant blends and the bright long vowel sounds.