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Hyphenation ofsphygmomanometry

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sphyg-mo-man-o-me-try

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

/ˌsfɪɡməʊməˈnɒmɪtri/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000110

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('me-'). Secondary stress on the fourth syllable ('o-').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sphyg/sfɪɡ/

Open syllable, consonant cluster onset.

mo/məʊ/

Open syllable, simple onset and nucleus.

man/mæn/

Closed syllable, coda present.

o/ɒ/

Open syllable, secondary stress.

me/mə/

Open syllable, primary stress.

try/tri/

Closed syllable, coda present.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sphygmo-(prefix)
+
man-(root)
+
-ometry(suffix)

Prefix: sphygmo-

Greek origin, meaning 'pulse'

Root: man-

Greek origin, from 'manos' meaning 'hand', relating to measurement

Suffix: -ometry

Greek origin, meaning 'measurement'

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The measurement of blood pressure.

Examples:

"Regular sphygmomanometry is crucial for monitoring hypertension."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Photographypho-to-gra-phy

Similar syllable structure with closed syllables.

Dermatologyder-ma-to-lo-gy

Shares the '-ology' suffix.

Psychometrypsy-cho-me-try

Shares the '-metry' suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Nucleus Rule

Each syllable must contain a vowel nucleus.

Onset-Coda Rule

Consonants preceding the nucleus form the onset, and consonants following the nucleus form the coda.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are treated as single onsets or codas where phonotactically permissible.

Special Considerations

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

The 'sph' cluster is an uncommon onset but accepted.

Regional variations in vowel quality (e.g., /ɒ/ vs. /ɔː/).

The word's complex morphology influences stress placement.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Sphygmomanometry is a six-syllable noun of Greek origin, measuring blood pressure. Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('me-'). Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel nuclei and consonant clusters. The word's morphology and origin contribute to its complex structure.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "sphygmomanometry" is a complex, multi-syllabic word of Greek origin, commonly used in medical contexts. Its pronunciation in British English (GB) is relatively consistent, though variations in vowel quality can occur.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): sphyg-mo-man-o-me-try

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: sphygmo- (Greek, σφύγμος - sphygmos, meaning "pulse"). Function: Indicates relation to pulse or blood vessels.
  • Root: man- (Greek, μανο- - mano-, from manos meaning "hand"). Function: Relates to measurement or manipulation.
  • Suffix: -ometry (Greek, -μετρία - metria, meaning "measurement"). Function: Denotes the process of measuring.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: o-me-try. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -y, -er, or -or, and the complex morphology of the word.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsfɪɡməʊməˈnɒmɪtri/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • sphyg-: /sfɪɡ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster 'sph' is treated as a single onset. Vowel 'i' forms the nucleus.
  • mo-: /məʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: 'm' is the onset, 'o' is the nucleus.
  • man-: /mæn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: 'm' is the onset, 'a' is the nucleus, 'n' is the coda.
  • o-: /ˈɒ/ - Open syllable. Rule: 'o' is the nucleus. This syllable receives secondary stress.
  • me-: /mə/ - Open syllable. Rule: 'm' is the onset, 'e' is the nucleus. This syllable receives primary stress.
  • try-: /tri/ - Closed syllable. Rule: 'tr' is the onset, 'i' is the nucleus, 'y' is the coda.

7. Edge Case Review & Exceptions:

The 'sph' cluster is a relatively uncommon onset in English, but it's accepted. The vowel sounds within the word can have slight regional variations (e.g., /ɒ/ vs. /ɔː/ in 'o-').

8. Grammatical Role:

"Sphygmomanometry" functions exclusively as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The measurement of blood pressure.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: Blood pressure measurement
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Examples: "Regular sphygmomanometry is crucial for monitoring hypertension."

10. Alternative Pronunciations & Regional Variations:

Some speakers might pronounce the 'o' in 'mo-' as /əʊ/ instead of /oʊ/, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Photography: pho-to-gra-phy. Similar syllable structure with closed syllables ('pho', 'gra', 'phy'). Stress pattern differs (pho-to-gra-phy).
  • Dermatology: der-ma-to-lo-gy. Similar suffix '-ology'. Syllable division follows similar rules. Stress pattern differs (der-ma-to-lo-gy).
  • Psychometry: psy-cho-me-try. Shares the '-metry' suffix. Syllable division is comparable. Stress pattern differs (psy-cho-me-try).
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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