Skip to content

syllabe

syllable

noun see-LAB Rare

Origin: From Greek 'syllabe', meaning 'that which is held together'.

Usage Note

Syllabe is feminine and refers to the basic phonological unit of speech. French teachers use syllabe ouverte (open syllable, ending in a vowel) and syllabe fermée (closed syllable, ending in a consonant) as key terms in literacy instruction. The adjective form is syllabique.

Examples

"Ce mot a trois syllabes."

Natural Translation

This word has three syllables.

Explore French by topic