Italian words are divided into syllables as follows:
A single consonant goes with the following vowel.
ItalianEnglishca–sahousepo–si–ti–vopositive
Double consonants are divided.
ItalianEnglishbab–bodadros–soredbel–lobeautifulat–toact
Two consonants, the first of which is l, m, n, or r, are divided.
ItalianEnglishal–ber–gohotelcon–ten–tocontentedam–pioamplefor–tu–nafortune
Otherwise, a combination of two consonants belongs to the following syllable.
ItalianEnglishba–staenoughfi–gliosonpa–drefatherba–gnobathso–praabovesa–crosacred
The first of three consonants, except s, goes with the preceding syllable.
ItalianEnglishsem–prealwaysfel–trofeltmem–bromembermen–trewhile
BUT
ItalianEnglishfi–ne–strawindowpe–schepeachesmi–ne–strasoupmo–stromonster
Diphthongs and triphthongs are never divided.
ItalianEnglishnuo–vonewmie–lehoneyper–fi–diaspiteuo–momanmaineverlin–gualanguagesuoihispi–gliaiI took
Diphthongs may occur in stressed or unstressed syllables. However, when a diphthong is broken by stress (the vowel i or u directly bears the stress), then the two vowels break into separate syllables.
ItalianEnglishmi–ominetu–oyoursspi–aspyma–ni–amaniarin–vi–opostponementte–ra–pi–atherapyal–le–gri–ajoyfar–ma–ci–apharmacy