The Six Syllable Types

There are six syllable types, and it is very helpful to new and remedial readers to be able to identify the syllable types in words. If you teach reading or teach spelling, you have probably noticed that the vowels can have different sounds. The sound that a vowel makes often depends upon what type of syllable it is in.

Here are the six syllable types, in a suggested order of teaching:

Closed Syllables
Closed syllables have one vowel, followed by a consonant. The vowel has a short sound. Examples include am, cut, him, pot, track, and French. Multisyllable words can be made up of entirely closed syllables, such as the words admonish or plastic.

Open Syllables
An open syllable ends in a vowel and the vowel usually is long. Words containing open syllables include be, so, baby, and veto.
Examples of open syllables combined with closed syllables include i>program and recess.

Vowel-Consonant-E Syllables
Vowel-Consonant-E syllables are also known as "VCE syllables" or "Magic E syllables." In this syllable type, there is a vowel followed by a consonant and silent e. The silent e makes the vowel before it long. One syllable VCE words include make and smile. There are many ultisyllable words containing the VCE syllable type, such as reptile and disclose.

Vowel Team Syllables
Vowel team syllables are sometimes referred to as "vowel pair syllables." In a vowel team syllable, two (or more) vowels come together to make one sound. Vowel teams are used in words like out or beach. Multisyllable words containing vowel team syllables include caution, loyal, and discount.

R-Controlled Syllables
This syllable type can be called a "Bossy R syllable." In r-controlled syllable types, a vowel is followed by the letter r. The r "controls" vowel, and gives it a different sound. Examples of r-controlled syllables include far, hurt, and sir.

Consonant-le Syllables
Sometimes referred to as "final, stable syllables," consonant-le syllables are normally found at the end of a word. They consist of a consonant followed by the letters le. Examples of words ending with this syllable type include turtle, middle, and table.

Combined with knowledge of the basic phonograms and spelling rules, knowing the six syllable types will allow your student to become a strong reader and speller.


a e i o u
b ba be bi bo bu
c ca ce ci co cu
d da de di do du
f fa fe fi fo fu
g ga ge gi go gu
h ha he hi ho hu
j ja je ji jo ju
k ka ke ki ko ku
l la le li lo lu
m ma me mi mo mu
n na ne ni no nu
p pa pe pi po pu
q qua que qui quo qu
r ra re ri ro ru
s sa se si so su
t ta te ti to tu
v va ve vi vo vu
w wa we wi wo wu
x xa xe xi xo xu
y ya ye yi yo yu
z za ze zi zo zu