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Hyphenation ofpolymorphonuclear

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

po-ly-mor-pho-nu-cle-ar

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

/ˌpɒlɪmɔːrfoʊˈnjuːkliər/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0100110

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('nu'), and secondary stress on the first syllable ('po').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

po/pəʊ/

Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant.

ly/lɪ/

Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant.

mor/mɔːr/

Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant.

pho/foʊ/

Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant.

nu/njuː/

Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant.

cle/kliər/

Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant.

ar/ər/

Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

poly-(prefix)
+
morpho-(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix: poly-

Greek origin, meaning 'many', prefix indicating multiplicity.

Root: morpho-

Greek origin, meaning 'form, shape', relating to structure.

Suffix:

The '-ar' is part of the root 'nuclear' and contributes to the word's meaning.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Relating to or denoting a type of leukocyte (white blood cell) characterized by a multi-lobed nucleus.

Examples:

"Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are crucial in the inflammatory response."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

photographypho-to-gra-phy

Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters.

biologybi-o-lo-gy

Similar in having multiple syllables and vowel sounds.

morphologymor-pho-lo-gy

Shares the root 'morpho-', demonstrating consistent syllabification of that element.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and rime (vowel sound and any following consonants).

Vowel Nucleus

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound, which forms the nucleus.

Special Considerations

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

The length of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes could lead to alternative, less accurate syllabifications. The chosen division prioritizes maintaining morphemic boundaries where possible.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'polymorphonuclear' is syllabified as po-ly-mor-pho-nu-cle-ar, with primary stress on 'nu'. It's a complex adjective derived from Greek and Latin roots, describing a type of white blood cell. Syllabification follows standard English onset-rime division rules, prioritizing vowel nuclei and morphemic boundaries.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced /ˌpɒlɪmɔːrfoʊˈnjuːkliər/ in General British English.

2. Syllable Division: po-ly-mor-pho-nu-cle-ar

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: poly- (Greek, meaning "many") - morphological function: indicates multiplicity.
  • Root: morpho- (Greek, meaning "form, shape") - morphological function: relates to form or structure.
  • Root: nuclear- (Latin, meaning "relating to the nucleus") - morphological function: relates to the nucleus.
  • Suffix: None. The final "-ar" is part of the root "nuclear" and contributes to the word's meaning.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌpɒlɪmɔːrfoʊˈnjuːkliər/. Secondary stress is on the first syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌpɒlɪmɔːrfoʊˈnjuːkliər/

6. Edge Case Review: This word is a complex compound, and its length makes syllabification potentially ambiguous. However, following standard English syllabification rules, the division above is the most accurate.

7. Grammatical Role: "Polymorphonuclear" functions primarily as an adjective, describing a type of leukocyte (white blood cell). The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Relating to or denoting a type of leukocyte (white blood cell) characterized by a multi-lobed nucleus.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: Granulocytic, granulocyte-containing
  • Antonyms: Agranulocytic
  • Examples: "Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are crucial in the inflammatory response."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Photography: pho-to-gra-phy - Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters. Stress pattern differs (pho-TO-gra-phy).
  • Biology: bi-o-lo-gy - Similar in having multiple syllables and vowel sounds. Stress pattern differs (BI-o-lo-gy).
  • Morphology: mor-pho-lo-gy - Shares the root "morpho-", demonstrating consistent syllabification of that element. Stress pattern differs (mor-FO-lo-gy).

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Syllable Division Rule Exceptions/Special Cases
po- /pəʊ/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Onset-Rime division, vowel sound initiates the syllable. None
ly- /lɪ/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Onset-Rime division, vowel sound initiates the syllable. None
mor- /mɔːr/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Onset-Rime division, vowel sound initiates the syllable. None
pho- /foʊ/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Onset-Rime division, vowel sound initiates the syllable. None
nu- /njuː/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Onset-Rime division, vowel sound initiates the syllable. None
cle- /kliər/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Onset-Rime division, vowel sound initiates the syllable. None
ar /ər/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Onset-Rime division, vowel sound initiates the syllable. None

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level): The length of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes could lead to alternative, less accurate syllabifications. The chosen division prioritizes maintaining morphemic boundaries where possible.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset-Rime: Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and rime (vowel sound and any following consonants).
  • Vowel Nucleus: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound, which forms the nucleus.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: Some speakers might reduce the vowel sounds in unstressed syllables, potentially affecting the clarity of the syllabification. However, the core structure remains consistent.

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

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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.