HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofinsufficientness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

in-suf-fi-cient-ness

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

/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃəntnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01011

Primary stress on the fourth syllable ('cient'), secondary stress on the first syllable ('in').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

in/ɪn/

Open syllable, onset-rhyme structure.

suf/sʌf/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

fi/fɪ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

cient/ʃɪənt/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster -nt closes the syllable.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, consonant closes the syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

in-(prefix)
+
sufficient(root)
+
-ness(suffix)

Prefix: in-

Latin origin, negation.

Root: sufficient

Latin origin (sufficere), meaning 'adequate'.

Suffix: -ness

Old English origin, forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of not being sufficient; inadequacy.

Examples:

"The insufficientness of the evidence led to the case being dismissed."

"Her insufficientness in mathematical skills hindered her progress."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

sufficientsuf-fi-cient

Shares the root 'sufficient' and similar stress pattern.

efficientef-fi-cient

Similar syllable structure and stress pattern on '-cient'.

deficientde-fi-cient

Similar syllable structure and stress pattern on '-cient'.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rhyme

Syllables are divided based on the onset and rhyme structure, with consonants typically closing syllables.

Vowel-Consonant

Vowels followed by consonants generally form a syllable boundary.

Special Considerations

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

The sequence '-ficient' is a common pattern and doesn't present unusual syllabification challenges.

The final '-ness' suffix is a standard noun-forming suffix.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'insufficientness' is divided into five syllables: in-suf-fi-cient-ness. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('cient'). It's morphologically complex, comprising the prefix 'in-', the root 'sufficient', and the suffix '-ness'. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on onset-rhyme structure and vowel-consonant patterns.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "insufficientness" is a complex noun formed through multiple morphological processes. Its pronunciation in GB English is generally /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃəntnəs/. The word presents challenges due to its length and the presence of multiple suffixes.

2. Syllable Division:

Following GB English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters): in-suf-fi-cient-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning 'not') - Negation.
  • Root: sufficient (Latin sufficere 'to suffice, be enough') - Meaning 'adequate'.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English *-nes) - Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.
  • Suffix: -ient (Latin -ientem) - Forms an adjective from a verb.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: in-suf-fi-cient-ness. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: in-suf-fi-cient-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃəntnəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • in-: /ɪn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rhyme structure. The 'n' closes the syllable.
  • suf-: /sʌf/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
  • fi-: /fɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
  • cient-: /ˈʃɪənt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster (-nt) closes the syllable. The vowel is a diphthong.
  • ness-: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant closes the syllable.

7. Edge Case Review & Exceptions:

The sequence '-ficient' is relatively common and follows standard syllabification. The final '-ness' is a typical noun-forming suffix and doesn't present any unusual division challenges.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Insufficientness" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of not being sufficient; inadequacy.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: inadequacy, deficiency, lack, shortfall
  • Antonyms: sufficiency, adequacy, competence
  • Examples: "The insufficientness of the evidence led to the case being dismissed." "Her insufficientness in mathematical skills hindered her progress."

10. Regional Variations:

While the core syllabification remains consistent across GB English dialects, slight variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., the /ə/ in 'insufficient') might occur. These variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • sufficient: suf-fi-cient - Similar structure, stress on the 'cient' syllable.
  • efficient: ef-fi-cient - Similar structure, stress on the 'cient' syllable.
  • deficient: de-fi-cient - Similar structure, stress on the 'cient' syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the '-cient' syllable across these words demonstrates the regularity of English stress assignment. The addition of the prefix 'in-' and suffix '-ness' in 'insufficientness' extends the word but doesn't alter the core stress pattern.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/13/2025

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 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.