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Hyphenation ofcentimetre-gramme-second

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

cen-ti-me-tre-gram-me-sec-ond

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

/ˈsɛntɪˌmiːtə(r) ɡrɑːm ˈsɛkənd/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

10001001

Primary stress falls on the first syllable of each component: 'cen', 'gram', and 'sec'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

cen/sɛn/

Open syllable, stressed.

ti/tɪ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

me/miː/

Open syllable, unstressed.

tre/tə(r)/

Open syllable, unstressed.

gram/ɡrɑːm/

Closed syllable, stressed.

me/miː/

Open syllable, unstressed.

sec/sɛk/

Closed syllable, stressed.

ond/ənd/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

centi-(prefix)
+
metre(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix: centi-

Latin origin, meaning 'hundred'

Root: metre

Greek origin, meaning 'measure'

Suffix:

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A system of units used in the metric system, based on the metre, gram, and second.

Examples:

"The experiment was conducted using the centimetre-gramme-second system."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

kilometreki-lo-me-tre

Similar structure with a prefix and 'metre' root.

milligrammil-li-gram

Similar structure with a prefix and 'gram' root.

nanosecondna-no-se-cond

Similar structure with a prefix and 'second' root.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-C Rule

Syllable division generally occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant.

Vowel-CVC Rule

Syllable division generally occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant and another vowel.

Special Considerations

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

Hyphenated structure simplifies analysis.

Pronunciation of 'r' after vowels varies regionally.

French influence on 'gramme'.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'centimetre-gramme-second' is a compound noun divided into eight syllables based on vowel-consonant patterns. Stress falls on the first syllable of each component. Morphemic analysis reveals Latin and Greek roots. Regional variations in 'r' pronunciation and the final 'm' in 'gramme' may affect phonetic realization but not syllable division.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "centimetre-gramme-second" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word is a compound noun, formed by combining three units, each with its own established pronunciation. The hyphenated structure influences syllable division. British English pronunciation will be prioritized. The final 'm' in 'gramme' is pronounced, unlike some American pronunciations.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and consonant clusters, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • centimetre:
    • Prefix: centi- (Latin, meaning "hundred") - indicates multiplication by one hundred.
    • Root: metre (Greek, metron meaning "measure") - the base unit of length.
  • gramme:
    • Root: gram (Greek, gramma meaning "weight") - a unit of mass. The 'me' is a French addition.
    • Suffix: -me (French origin, used to denote a unit of measure)
  • second:
    • Root: second (Latin, secundus meaning "following") - a unit of time.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the first syllable of each component: cen-ti-me-tre, gram-me, sec-ond.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈsɛntɪˌmiːtə(r) ɡrɑːm ˈsɛkənd/

6. Edge Case Review:

The hyphenation is crucial. Without it, syllabification would be more complex. The 'r' after a vowel in 'centimetre' and 'gramme' is non-rhotic in many GB accents, influencing the syllable structure. The double 'm' in 'gramme' is a potential point of division, but the pronunciation dictates it remains within the syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word functions solely as a compound noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A system of units used in the metric system, based on the metre, gram, and second.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: MKS system, metric units
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
  • Examples: "The experiment was conducted using the centimetre-gramme-second system."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • kilometre: ki-lo-me-tre - Similar structure with a prefix and 'metre'. Stress pattern is comparable.
  • milligram: mil-li-gram - Similar structure with a prefix and 'gram'. Stress pattern is comparable.
  • nanosecond: na-no-se-cond - Similar structure with a prefix and 'second'. Stress pattern is comparable.

The consistent stress on the first syllable of each component demonstrates a regular pattern in compound nouns formed with these units.

10. Syllable Breakdown with Rules & Exceptions:

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
cen /sɛn/ Vowel-CVC rule. Syllable division occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant. The 't' is not released in many GB accents.
ti /tɪ/ Vowel-C rule. Syllable division occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant.
me /miː/ Vowel-C rule. Syllable division occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant. Long vowel sound.
tre /tə(r)/ Vowel-C rule. Syllable division occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant. The 'r' is often non-rhotic.
gram /ɡrɑːm/ Vowel-CVC rule. Syllable division occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant. Double 'm' is retained within the syllable.
me /miː/ Vowel-C rule. Syllable division occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant. Long vowel sound.
sec /sɛk/ Vowel-CVC rule. Syllable division occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant.
ond /ənd/ Vowel-C rule. Syllable division occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant.

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-C Rule: Syllable division generally occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant.
  • Vowel-CVC Rule: Syllable division generally occurs before a consonant when a vowel sound is followed by a consonant and another vowel.

12. Special Considerations:

The hyphenated structure simplifies the analysis. The pronunciation of 'r' after vowels varies regionally. The French influence on 'gramme' adds a slight complexity.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

American English may pronounce the final 'm' in 'gramme' as /m/, potentially affecting syllable division (gram-me vs. gramm).

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/5/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.