A syllable is a sequence of [[speech sound]] composed of a nucleus (usually a [[vowel sound]]) and optional onset(s) and coda(s) (typically [[consonant sound]]s). In simple terms, a syllable is a unit of sound that can be pronounced in one breath. In English, for example, the word "cat" has one syllable, while the word "table" has two (ta-ble). The number of syllables in a word can affect its pronunciation and stress pattern.