The word shrewd is divided into 1 syllables: shrewd. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The phonetic transcription of shrewd:
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From Middle English schrewed (“depraved; wicked”, literally “accursed”), from schrewen (“to curse; beshrew”), from schrewe, schrowe, screwe (“evil or wicked person/thing”), from Old English sċrēawa (“wicked person”, literally “biter”). Equivalent to shrew + -ed. More at shrew. The sense of "cunning" developed in early 16th c., gradually gaining a positive connotation by 17th c.
Understanding how to break down shrewd into syllables helps with:
Compare shrewd with related words to understand syllable patterns:
| Word | Syllables | Division |
|---|---|---|
| shrewd | 1 | shrewd |
| sordid | 2 | sor-did |
| scared | 2 | scar-ed |
| Surat | 2 | su-rat |
| surety | 3 | su-re-ty |
Explore syllable divisions of words related to shrewd:
shrewd has 1 syllables: shrewd. The word is divided into 1 distinct sound units that make up the complete pronunciation.
The stress is on the first syllable: shrewd. This means you emphasize the "shrewd" part when pronouncing shrewd.
shrewd is pronounced as /ʃɹuːd/ (IPA notation). The syllables are divided as: shrewd.
Breaking shrewd into syllables helps with spelling: shrewd. 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.