In the majority of English words the first syllable is stressed. If a vowel is separated from another vowel by one consonant (except r), the syllable division line is before it. The first syllable is open: si|lent. Exceptions are city, pity, copy etc..
If a vowel is separated from another vowel by two or more consonants, the syllable division line is between them. The first syllable is closed: Vic|tor, mon|ster.
Er, or, ar, urin an unstressed syllable are read [ ə ]. Sonorantsl,n –can form syllables withp,d,b,t,g,etc.