The word "dentist" has three syllables. A syllable is a unit of pronunciation consisting of a single vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants. In the word "dentist," the three syllables are "den," "tist," and the final silent "e." When dividing a word into syllables, it's important to remember that a single syllable can consist of multiple letters, as is the case with the "-tist" syllable in "dentist."
Knowing how many syllables are in a word can be helpful for a variety of reasons. For example, it can help with pronunciation, poetry, and songwriting. Additionally, it can also be helpful for determining the stress patterns of words.