HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofgesellschaftserschütternden

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ge-sell-schafts-er-schüt-ter-nden

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ɡəˈzɛlʃaftsˌʔɛʁʃʏtɐndən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

1000100

Primary stress on the first syllable ('ge-'). Secondary stress on the 'schüt' syllable.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

ge-/ɡə/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

-sell-/zɛl/

Closed syllable, voiced 's' sound.

-schafts-/ʃafts/

Closed syllable, 'sch' as a single phoneme.

-er-/ʔɛʁ/

Open syllable, glottal stop before vowel.

-schüt-/ʃʏt/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster.

-ter-/tɐ/

Open syllable.

-nden/ndən/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

ge-(prefix)
+
sellschaft(root)
+
-er-schütter-den-en(suffix)

Prefix: ge-

German prefix indicating completion or intensification.

Root: sellschaft

From *Gesellschaft* - society, community; Old High German *gisellscaft*.

Suffix: -er-schütter-den-en

Combination of adjectival suffixes and a verb stem.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

society-shattering

Translation: society-shattering

Examples:

"Die gesellschaftserschütternden Ereignisse führten zu politischen Veränderungen."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

UniversitätU-ni-ver-si-tät

Complex consonant clusters and vowel sequences.

VerantwortlichkeitVer-ant-wort-lich-keit

Complex consonant clusters and vowel sequences.

WirklichkeitWir-klich-keit

Complex consonant clusters and vowel sequences.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime Division

Dividing syllables based on the onset (initial consonant(s)) and rime (vowel and following consonants).

Consonant Cluster Handling

German allows complex consonant clusters, but syllables are still formed around vowel nuclei.

Syllable Weight

German syllables can be light or heavy, influencing stress placement.

Glottal Stop Insertion

A glottal stop is often inserted before vowels following certain consonant clusters.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The long sequence of suffixes is a typical feature of German.

The glottal stop before vowels can be elided in rapid speech.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'gesellschaftserschütternden' is a complex German adjective divided into seven syllables: ge-sell-schafts-er-schüt-ter-nden. It features complex consonant clusters and vowel sequences, with primary stress on the prefix 'ge-'. The morphemic breakdown reveals a prefix, root, and multiple suffixes. Syllabification follows standard German rules prioritizing vowel nuclei and respecting consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "gesellschaftserschütternden"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "gesellschaftserschütternden" is a complex German adjective meaning "society-shattering" or "earth-shattering" (in a societal sense). It's a highly inflected form, indicating a strong declension. Pronunciation involves several consonant clusters and vowel sounds typical of German.

2. Syllable Division:

Following German syllabification rules, the word is divided as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: ge- (German, prefix indicating completion or intensification)
  • Root: sellschaft (German, from Gesellschaft - society, community; ultimately from Old High German gisellscaft, meaning 'fellowship')
  • Suffixes: -er- (German, adjectival suffix forming an agent noun or denoting relation), -schütter- (German, from schüttern - to shake, shatter), -den (German, adjectival ending indicating strong declension, masculine/neuter accusative singular or dative plural), -en (German, adjectival ending indicating strong declension)

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the prefix "ge-". Secondary stress is on the "schüt" syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɡəˈzɛlʃaftsˌʔɛʁʃʏtɐndən/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Application Description Exceptions/Special Cases
ge- /ɡə/ Onset-Rime division; Syllable weight. Open syllable. German allows single-letter syllables. None
-sell- /zɛl/ Consonant cluster simplification. "s" is pronounced as /z/ due to voicing. Closed syllable. None
-schafts- /ʃafts/ Consonant cluster. "sch" is a single phoneme. Closed syllable. None
-er- /ʔɛʁ/ Onset-Rime division. Glottal stop before vowel. Open syllable. The glottal stop is often elided in rapid speech.
-schüt- /ʃʏt/ Consonant cluster. Closed syllable. None
-ter- /tɐ/ Onset-Rime division. Open syllable. None
-nden /ndən/ Consonant cluster. Closed syllable. None

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Onset-Rime Division: The most basic rule, dividing syllables based on the onset (initial consonant(s)) and rime (vowel and following consonants).
  2. Consonant Cluster Handling: German allows complex consonant clusters, but syllables are still formed around vowel nuclei.
  3. Syllable Weight: German syllables can be light or heavy, influencing stress placement.
  4. Glottal Stop Insertion: A glottal stop is often inserted before vowels following certain consonant clusters.

7. Edge Case Review:

The long sequence of suffixes is a typical feature of German, leading to a long word. Syllabification focuses on maintaining vowel nuclei and respecting consonant clusters.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word is an adjective. If it were part of a compound noun, the stress pattern might shift to the final element of the compound.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: gesellschaftserschütternden
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Definitions:
    • "society-shattering"
    • "earth-shattering" (in a societal context)
  • Translation: society-shattering
  • Synonyms: umwälzend, revolutionär, erschütternd
  • Antonyms: stabilisierend, beruhigend
  • Examples:
    • "Die gesellschaftserschütternden Ereignisse führten zu politischen Veränderungen." (The society-shattering events led to political changes.)

10. Regional Variations:

Pronunciation of the "r" sound can vary regionally (uvular vs. alveolar). This doesn't significantly affect syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

Word Syllables Syllable Structure
Universität U-ni-ver-si-tät Similar complex consonant clusters and vowel sequences.
Verantwortlichkeit Ver-ant-wort-lich-keit Similar complex consonant clusters and vowel sequences.
Wirklichkeit Wir-klich-keit Similar complex consonant clusters and vowel sequences.

The syllable structure in all these words is characterized by complex consonant clusters and vowel sequences, typical of German. The division rules are consistently applied, prioritizing vowel nuclei and respecting consonant clusters. The length of the words and the number of suffixes are also comparable.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

The hottest word splits in German

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.