A syllable is a unit of sound in a word that typically contains a vowel sound and may include surrounding consonants. For example, the word “cat” has one syllable, while “banana” has three syllables: ba-na-na. Syllables help in understanding the rhythm and pronunciation of words. Syllables can be classified as open or closed. An open syllable ends with a vowel sound, like in the word go, while a closed syllable ends with a consonant, as in cat. Recognizing syllables is essential for reading, writing, and language development.