The word broken is divided into 2 syllables: bro·ken. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The phonetic transcription of broken:
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From Middle English broken, from Old English brocen, ġebrocen, from Proto-Germanic *brukanaz, past participle of Proto-Germanic *brekaną (“to break”). Cognate with Dutch gebroken (“broken”), German Low German broken (“broken”), German gebrochen (“broken”). Morphologically broke + -n.
Understanding how to break down broken into syllables helps with:
Compare broken with related words to understand syllable patterns:
| Word | Syllables | Division |
|---|---|---|
| broken | 2 | bro·ken |
| bargain | 2 | bar-gain |
| behaviorism | 4 | be-ha-vio-rism |
| bearskin | 1 | bearskin |
| burgeon | 2 | bur-geon |
Explore syllable divisions of words related to broken:
broken has 2 syllables: bro·ken. The word is divided into 2 distinct sound units that make up the complete pronunciation.
The stress is on the first syllable: bro. This means you emphasize the "bro" part when pronouncing broken.
broken is pronounced as /ˈbɹəʊ.kn̩/ (IPA notation). The syllables are divided as: bro·ken.
Breaking broken into syllables helps with spelling: bro·ken. By pronouncing each syllable separately, you can identify the letters more easily and avoid common spelling mistakes.
Learning syllable division helps with correct pronunciation, improved spelling, better reading fluency, and is useful for poetry and lyric writing where syllable counting matters. It's especially helpful for language learners.