In phonology, the initial sound of a syllable is called the onset. Which option correctly defines onset?

• A. The initial sound
• B. The final sound
• C. The vowel sound
• D. The middle sounds

Answer: (A)

Onset is the part of a syllable that begins before the vowel, and it can be one consonant or a cluster of consonants. It’s the initial sound(s) that lead up to the nucleus (the vowel). For example, in “bat,” the onset is the /b/; in “string,” the onset is /str/. The vowel sound is the nucleus, and any consonants after the nucleus form the coda. So identifying the onset as the initial sound correctly captures its role in syllable structure. The final sound would be the ending consonant(s) (the coda), the vowel sound is the nucleus, and “middle sounds” isn’t a standard term for syllable parts.