HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofdeoxyribonuclease

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

de-ox-y-ri-bo-nu-cle-ase

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

/ˌdiːɒksɪraɪboʊnjuːkliːeɪz/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010001

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ri'), indicated by '1'. All other syllables are unstressed ('0').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

de/diː/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

ox/ɒksi/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

ri/raɪ/

Open syllable, diphthong followed by consonant.

bo/boʊ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

nu/njuː/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

cle/kliː/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ase/eɪz/

Closed syllable, final syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

deoxy-(prefix)
+
ribonucle-(root)
+
-ase(suffix)

Prefix: deoxy-

Greek origin, meaning 'lacking oxygen', negative prefix.

Root: ribonucle-

Latin and Greek origin, relating to ribose and the nucleus.

Suffix: -ase

Greek origin, denoting an enzyme.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of DNA, breaking the phosphodiester bonds within the DNA backbone.

Examples:

"The researchers used deoxyribonuclease to digest the DNA sample."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

photosynthesispho-to-syn-the-sis

Similar structure with multiple syllables and Greek/Latin roots.

biochemistrybio-chem-is-try

Similar syllable structure and morphemic composition.

polymerasepo-ly-mer-ase

Similar suffix '-ase' indicating an enzyme.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are typically divided after a vowel sound, especially when followed by a consonant.

Avoid Consonant Clusters

English syllable division generally avoids breaking up consonant clusters unless absolutely necessary.

Open Syllable Preference

Syllables ending in a vowel sound are considered 'open' and are often preferred.

Special Considerations

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

Pronunciation of 'deoxy' can vary, potentially affecting perceived syllable boundaries.

Rapid articulation of 'ribo' may lead to syllable blending.

Regional variations in vowel sounds (e.g., American vs. British English).

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Deoxyribonuclease is a complex noun with seven syllables (de-ox-y-ri-bo-nu-cle-ase). Stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ri'). The word is composed of a Greek prefix, a Latin/Greek root, and a Greek suffix. Syllable division follows standard English rules prioritizing vowel sounds and avoiding consonant cluster splits.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "deoxyribonuclease" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "deoxyribonuclease" is a complex scientific term. Pronunciation can vary slightly, but generally follows established English pronunciation rules, with some influence from its Greek and Latin roots. The 'deoxy' portion is often pronounced as /diːˈɒksi/ or /deɪˈɒksi/.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: deoxy- (Greek, meaning "lacking oxygen") - functions as a negative prefix.
  • Root: ribonucle- (Latin ribosa (ribose) + Greek nukleos (nucleus)) - refers to the ribose sugar and the nucleus of the cell.
  • Suffix: -ase (Greek, denoting an enzyme) - indicates an enzymatic function.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: de-ox-y-ri-bo-nu-cle-ase.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌdiːɒksɪraɪboʊnjuːkliːeɪz/ (General British English)

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • de-: /diː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: Initial syllable, often open.
  • ox-: /ˈɒksi/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) at the end of the syllable.
  • ri-: /ˈraɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Diphthong followed by consonant(s).
  • bo-: /boʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
  • nu-: /njuː/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster.
  • cle-: /kliː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
  • ase: /eɪz/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) at the end of the word.

7. Edge Case Review:

The 'deoxy' prefix can sometimes be pronounced with a shorter vowel sound, affecting the syllable division perception. The 'ribo' portion is often quickly articulated, potentially leading to a perceived blending of syllables.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Deoxyribonuclease" primarily functions as a noun, specifically a scientific term. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of DNA, breaking the phosphodiester bonds within the DNA backbone.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: DNAse, deoxyribonucleic acid hydrolase
  • Antonyms: DNA ligase (an enzyme that joins DNA strands)
  • Examples: "The researchers used deoxyribonuclease to digest the DNA sample."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

American English pronunciation may differ slightly, with a more pronounced 'ee' sound in 'deoxy' and a different vowel quality in 'ribo'. This would affect the phonetic transcription but not necessarily the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Photosynthesis: pho-to-syn-the-sis - Similar structure with multiple syllables and Greek/Latin roots. Stress pattern is different.
  • Biochemistry: bio-chem-is-try - Similar syllable structure and morphemic composition. Stress pattern is different.
  • Polymerase: po-ly-mer-ase - Similar suffix '-ase' indicating an enzyme. Syllable division is more straightforward.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

The hottest word splits in English (GB)

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

What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.