Syllables: vowel and consonant patterns

The usual rule is simple: every syllable contains a vowel.

Sometimes, that vowel sound is spelled with just one letter:

dentist

lazy

upon

volcano

America

Sometimes, it is spelled with more than one letter:

teaching

lightest

statue

swallow

cloakroom

Now, you know what’s coming next!

A few words break the rule and the syllables are created by consonants.
For example:

Sometimes the letter m on the end of a word forms a syllable on its own:

	rhythm	Most rock music has strong rhythm.
	chasm	A chasm is a wide gap.
	spasm	A spasm is a sudden, uncontrolled movement.

	These words all have the suffix -ism which has two syllables. It can mean an action, a system, a principle, a medical condition:
	ageism	Ageism: bias against older people.
	alcoholism	Alcoholism: an addiction to alcohol.
	Buddhism	Buddhism: the beliefs of Buddhists.

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The Spellzone interactive course is intended to be used online and may not be printed.