# 2.3.1. 构成（Structure of a syllable）

**英文的词汇由至少一个音节构成**。英文中出现频率最高的几个词，*a/an*, *the*, *of*, *to*, *for*... 等等都是单音节词汇。有的词汇可能很长，由很多音节构成。在英文词典中能找到的最长词汇总计由 19 个音节，45 个字母构成：

> *[Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis)* <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/En-us-pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.ogg.mp3"></span>
>
> `/ˌnumənəʊˌəltrəˌmaɪkrəˌskɑpɪkˌsɪləkəʊvɑlˌkeɪnəʊˌkəʊniˈəʊsəs/`

一个音节中，有且只有一个元音（被称为  *nucleus*），也是该音节的韵（*rhyme*）。音节以元音为核心，前后可有多达三个辅音构成的组合。

In a syllable, there is *only* one vowel, known as the *nucleus*, which forms the *rhyme* of the syllable. This vowel is at the core of the syllable, and it can be surrounded by up to three consonants.

英文的音节构成大抵上有以下几种形式（其中，`c` 代表辅音，`v` 代表元音）：

> * `v` - *awe* `/ɑː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/awe-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/awe-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `vc` - *add* `/æd/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/add-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/add-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `vcc` - *east* `/iːst/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/east-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/east-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `vccc` - *axed* `/ækst/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/axed-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/axed-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `cv` - *the* `/ðə/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/the-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/the-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `cvc` - *dog* `/dɑːɡ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/dog-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/dog-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `cvcc` - *task* `/tæsk/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/task-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/task-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `cvccc` - *text* `/tekst/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/text-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/text-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `ccv` - *flee* `/fliː/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/flee-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/flee-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `ccvc` - *speed* `/spiːd/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/speed-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/speed-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `ccvcc` - *thrust* `/θrʌst/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/thrust-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/thrust-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `ccvccc` - *flexed* `/flekst/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/flexed-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/flexed-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `cccv` - *spray* `/spreɪ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/spray-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/spray-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `cccvc` - *spring* `/sprɪŋ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/spring-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/spring-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `cccvcc` - *splashed* `/splæʃt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/splashed-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/splashed-us-female.mp3"></span>
> * `cccvccc` - *scrounged* `/skraʊndʒd/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/scrounged-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/scrounged-us-female.mp3"></span>