Coda (linguistics) - Definition and Overview

In phonology, a syllable coda comprises the sounds of a syllable that follow the nucleus, which is usually a vowel. A coda is not required in syllables. Some languages' phonotactics, like Japanese limit syllable codas to a small group of single consonants, whereas others, like English can have any consonant or even clusters of consonants in syllable codas.

Here are some single-syllable words with codas: (the codas are specified in the International Phonetic Alphabet)

• an - coda = /n/
• cup - coda = /p/
• tall - coda = /l/
• milk - coda = /lk/
• tints - coda = /nts/
• fifths - coda = /fθs/
• sixths - coda = /ksθs/

The following single-syllable words end in a nucleus and do not have a coda:

• glue
• pie
• though
• boy