Closed Syllable Patterns
Read this word:
summer
*How many syllables are in
summer?
*Where should this word be
divided?
sum /mer



The two syllables are broken
between the double consonants - m
and m.
When a syllable breaks between two
consonants, the first syllable is usually
pronounced with a short vowel
sound.
This is called a closed syllable. It is
called a closed syllable because the
syllable is closed off with your lips
when you make the /m/ sound.
Read this word:
sandwich
*How many syllables are in
sandwich?
*Where should this word be
divided?
sand/wich
The syllable break is after the
consonants /nd/
 The consonant pair nd in sand stay
together in the first syllable.
 The syllable is broken after this
consonant blend.
 This syllable is also a closed syllable
because when you make the /nd/
sound the sound is closed off with
your tongue on the roof of your
mouth.

Try this one…
contestant
Where do the syllables break?
con/test/ant
Does it have closed syllables? How
many closed syllables does it
have?
Yes, it has 3 closed syllables.
Try this one…
sheltering
Where do the syllables break?
shel/ter/ing
Does it have closed syllables? How
many closed syllables does it
have?
Yes, it has 3 closed syllables.
Closed Syllable Rules
When a syllable breaks between two
consonants, the first syllable is usually
pronounced with a short vowel
sound
 This is called a closed syllable. It is
called a closed syllable because the
syllable is closed off with your lips
when you make the /m/ sound.

Look in the book you are
currently reading. Find 10
multisyllable words that
have closed syllable
patterns. Make a list of
them in your reading
notebook.