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Hyphenation ofcock-a-doodle-doo

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

cock-a-doo-dle-doo

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

/kɒk.əˈduː.dəl.duː/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

10100

Primary stress on the first syllable ('cock'), secondary stress on the first syllable of 'doo-dle-doo'

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

cock/kɒk/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

a/ə/

Open syllable, unstressed, interjection.

doo/duː/

Open syllable, secondary stress.

dle/dəl/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

doo/duː/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
cock(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: cock

Old English *cocc*, male chicken, represents initial sound

Suffix:

Meanings & Definitions
interjection(grammatical role in sentences)

The characteristic cry of a rooster.

Examples:

"The farmer woke up to the sound of 'cock-a-doodle-doo'."

Synonyms: crow, cock-crow
Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

choo-choochoo-choo

Reduplicated onomatopoeia representing a sound.

moo-moomoo-moo

Reduplicated onomatopoeia representing an animal sound.

tick-tocktick-tock

Represents a rhythmic sound, similar imitative quality.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.

Onset-Rime Rule

Syllables consist of an onset and a rime.

Interjection Separation

Interjections like 'a' often form separate syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The onomatopoeic nature allows for some pronunciation flexibility, but the syllable division is consistent. Regional vowel variations may occur.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'cock-a-doodle-doo' is an onomatopoeic interjection divided into five syllables: cock-a-doo-dle-doo. Primary stress falls on 'cock'. It's not morphologically complex, functioning as a direct imitation of a rooster's crow.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "cock-a-doodle-doo" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation: The word "cock-a-doodle-doo" is an onomatopoeic representation of a rooster's crow. Its pronunciation in British English (GB) is relatively consistent, though slight variations in vowel quality and stress can occur.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is as follows: cock-a-doo-dle-doo.

3. Morphemic Analysis: This word is not morphologically complex in the traditional sense. It's an ideophone, meaning its form imitates a sound.

  • cock: Originates from Old English cocc, referring to a male chicken. Function: Represents the initial sound of the crow.
  • a: Interjection, used to separate the sounds.
  • doo-dle-doo: Reduplication and alteration of "doo," mimicking the extended sound of the crow. "Doo" itself doesn't have a clear etymological root beyond being a vocalization.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the first syllable: cock. Secondary stress is present on "doo" in "doo-dle-doo".

5. Phonetic Transcription: /kɒk.əˈduː.dəl.duː/

6. Edge Case Review: The onomatopoeic nature of the word means there's some flexibility in pronunciation and, consequently, syllable division. However, the division provided is the most common and phonologically justifiable.

7. Grammatical Role: This word functions primarily as an interjection, representing a sound. It doesn't change its form based on grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The characteristic cry of a rooster.
  • Grammatical Category: Interjection
  • Synonyms: crow, cock-crow
  • Antonyms: (None applicable - it's a sound)
  • Examples: "The farmer woke up to the sound of 'cock-a-doodle-doo'."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • choo-choo: /tʃuː.tʃuː/ - Syllable division: choo-choo. Similar in its reduplicated onomatopoeic structure. Both have a clear initial stressed syllable.
  • moo-moo: /muː.muː/ - Syllable division: moo-moo. Another example of reduplication representing an animal sound.
  • tick-tock: /tɪk.tɒk/ - Syllable division: tick-tock. Represents a rhythmic sound, similar to "cock-a-doodle-doo" in its imitative quality.

The key difference is the complexity of "cock-a-doodle-doo" with its internal vowel variations and the inclusion of the interjection "a". The other words are simpler reduplications.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
  • Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables typically consist of an onset (consonant(s) at the beginning) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).
  • Interjection Separation: Interjections like "a" often form separate syllables.

11. Special Considerations: The word's onomatopoeic nature allows for some flexibility in pronunciation, but the syllable division presented is the most common and phonologically sound. Regional variations in vowel pronunciation might slightly alter the phonetic realization, but not the syllable structure.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: Some speakers might slightly lengthen or shorten the vowel sounds, or vary the stress on "doo-dle-doo", but the core syllable structure remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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