HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofsulphoterephthalic

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sul-pho-ther-epth-a-lic

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

/ˈsʌlfəʊθɛrɛfθælɪk/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0 0 0 1 0 0

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('epth').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sul/sʌl/

Open syllable, onset 's', rime 'ʌl'

pho/foʊ/

Open syllable, onset 'f', rime 'oʊ'

ther/θɛr/

Open syllable, onset 'θ', rime 'ɛr'

epth/ɛfθ/

Closed syllable, complex onset 'ɛf', rime 'θ'

a/æ/

Open syllable, single vowel

lic/lɪk/

Closed syllable, onset 'l', rime 'ɪk'

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sulfo-(prefix)
+
terephthal-(root)
+
-ic(suffix)

Prefix: sulfo-

From Latin *sulfur*, meaning sulfur; indicates a sulfonic acid group.

Root: terephthal-

From Greek *tere* and *phthalos*; denotes the benzene ring structure.

Suffix: -ic

From Latin *-icus*; adjectival suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Relating to or containing a sulpho group and derived from terephthalic acid.

Examples:

"Sulphoterephthalic acid is used in the production of certain polymers."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

photographicpho-to-graph-ic

Similar onset structure in the first syllable.

sulphuricsul-phur-ic

Similar prefix and syllable structure.

therapeuticther-a-peu-tic

Similar root structure and final syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Each syllable consists of an onset (initial consonant sound) and a rime (vowel sound and any following consonants).

Vowel as Syllable

A single vowel can form a syllable on its own.

Special Considerations

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

The 'pth' cluster in 'epth-' is an uncommon but permissible complex onset.

Potential regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /oʊ/ vs. /ɔː/).

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'sulphoterephthalic' is a six-syllable adjective with primary stress on the fourth syllable. It's formed from the prefix 'sulfo-', the root 'terephthal-', and the suffix '-ic'. Syllabification follows standard English onset-rime rules, with the 'pth' cluster representing a slightly unusual but acceptable complex onset.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "sulphoterephthalic" is a complex chemical term. Pronunciation will likely vary slightly depending on the speaker's familiarity with such terminology. However, a standard GB English pronunciation will be assumed for this analysis.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: sulfo- (from Latin sulfur, meaning sulfur). Morphological function: indicates the presence of a sulfonic acid group.
  • Root: terephthal- (from Greek tere - meaning 'both' and phthalos - meaning 'mothball', referring to the original source of phthalic acid). Morphological function: core component denoting the benzene ring structure.
  • Suffix: -ic (from Latin -icus). Morphological function: adjectival suffix.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: sul-pho-ther-epth-a-lic.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈsʌlfəʊθɛrɛfθælɪk/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • sul-: /ˈsʌl/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rime structure. 's' is the onset, 'ʌl' is the rime. No exceptions.
  • pho-: /ˈfoʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rime structure. 'f' is the onset, 'oʊ' is the rime. No exceptions.
  • ther-: /ˈθɛr/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rime structure. 'θ' is the onset, 'ɛr' is the rime. No exceptions.
  • epth-: /ɛfθ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset-Rime structure. 'ɛf' is the onset, 'θ' is the rime. The 'pth' cluster is permissible as a complex onset.
  • a-: /ˈæ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel constitutes a syllable. No exceptions.
  • lic: /lɪk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset-Rime structure. 'l' is the onset, 'ɪk' is the rime. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The 'pth' cluster in "epth-" is a relatively uncommon but acceptable onset in English. The vowel sounds are standard for GB English.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Sulphoterephthalic" functions primarily as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Relating to or containing a sulpho group and derived from terephthalic acid.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: None readily available (highly specific chemical term).
  • Antonyms: None readily available.
  • Examples: "Sulphoterephthalic acid is used in the production of certain polymers."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the diphthong /oʊ/ to a monophthong /ɔː/. This would slightly alter the syllable structure of "pho-", but not the overall syllabification.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • photographic: pho-to-graph-ic. Similar onset structure in the first syllable.
  • sulphuric: sul-phur-ic. Similar prefix and syllable structure.
  • therapeutic: ther-a-peu-tic. Similar root structure and final syllable.

The key difference lies in the complexity of the "epth-" cluster in "sulphoterephthalic," which is less common than the simpler structures in the comparison words. The presence of the 'pth' cluster necessitates a more complex onset.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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 splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.