HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofsuperinquisitively

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

su-per-in-quis-i-tiv-e-ly

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

/ˌsuːpərinˈkwɪzɪtɪvli/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010001

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('quis'). The stress pattern is typical for words of this length and morphological structure.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

su-/suː/

Open syllable, vowel onset.

per-/pə/

Open syllable, consonant onset, schwa possible.

in-/ɪn/

Closed syllable, consonant onset.

quis-/kwɪz/

Closed syllable, complex onset, primary stress.

i-/ɪ/

Open syllable, vowel onset, schwa possible.

tiv-/tɪv/

Closed syllable, consonant onset.

e-/ɪ/

Open syllable, vowel onset, schwa possible.

ly/li/

Closed syllable, consonant onset.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

super-(prefix)
+
inquis-(root)
+
itive-ly(suffix)

Prefix: super-

Latin origin, intensifying prefix.

Root: inquis-

Latin origin (inquirere), meaning 'to seek'.

Suffix: itive-ly

Combination of Latin -itive (adjective forming) and Old English -ly (adverbial).

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner that is excessively or intensely inquisitive; in a very questioning or curious way.

Examples:

"She examined the evidence superinquisitively."

"He questioned her superinquisitively about her whereabouts."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

inquisitivein-quis-i-tive

Shares the root 'inquis-' and similar syllable structure.

superimposesu-per-im-pose

Shares the prefix 'super-' and similar open/closed syllable alternation.

definitivelyde-fin-i-tive-ly

Shares the '-ively' suffix and similar closed syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Dividing syllables based on the onset (initial consonant(s)) and rime (vowel nucleus and any following consonants).

Sonority Sequencing Principle

Ordering consonants by sonority, with higher sonority sounds closer to the nucleus.

Special Considerations

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

Potential for schwa reduction in unstressed syllables, particularly in faster speech.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'superinquisitively' is divided into eight syllables based on onset-rime principles. Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('quis'). The word's morphology (prefix, root, suffixes) influences its syllable structure. Potential for schwa reduction exists in unstressed syllables.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "superinquisitively" presents challenges due to its length and complex morphology. Pronunciation in GB English will generally follow standard Received Pronunciation (RP) or a similar accent, with potential regional variations.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over," or "excessively") - intensifying prefix.
  • Root: inquis- (Latin inquirere "to seek, investigate") - denoting inquiry or questioning.
  • Suffix: -itive (Latin -itivus, forming adjectives relating to a quality) - adjective forming suffix.
  • Suffix: -ly (Old English -lice, adverbial suffix) - converts the adjective into an adverb.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: quis-

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsuːpərinˈkwɪzɪtɪvli/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Application Description Potential Exceptions
su- /suː/ Onset-Rime (Vowel onset) Open syllable. The vowel /uː/ forms the nucleus. None
per- /pə/ Onset-Rime (Consonant onset) Open syllable. /p/ is the onset, /ə/ is the nucleus. Schwa reduction possible in faster speech.
in- /ɪn/ Onset-Rime (Consonant onset) Closed syllable. /ɪ/ is the nucleus, /n/ is the coda. None
quis- /kwɪz/ Onset-Rime (Complex onset) Closed syllable. /kw/ is the complex onset, /ɪ/ is the nucleus, /z/ is the coda. Primary stress. None
i- /ɪ/ Onset-Rime (Vowel onset) Open syllable. /ɪ/ is the nucleus. Schwa reduction possible in faster speech.
tiv- /tɪv/ Onset-Rime (Consonant onset) Closed syllable. /t/ is the onset, /ɪ/ is the nucleus, /v/ is the coda. None
e- /ɪ/ Onset-Rime (Vowel onset) Open syllable. /ɪ/ is the nucleus. Schwa reduction possible in faster speech.
ly /li/ Onset-Rime (Consonant onset) Closed syllable. /l/ is the onset, /i/ is the nucleus. None

7. Syllable Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset-Rime: The most fundamental rule, dividing syllables based on the onset (initial consonant(s)) and rime (vowel nucleus and any following consonants).
  • Sonority Sequencing Principle: Consonants are ordered by sonority (perceived loudness), with higher sonority sounds closer to the nucleus.
  • Stress Placement: Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect vowel quality.

8. Exceptions & Special Cases:

The word's length and multiple morphemes create potential for vowel reduction (schwa) in unstressed syllables, particularly in faster speech. However, the syllable division remains consistent based on the orthographic structure.

9. Grammatical Role & Syllabification:

"Superinquisitively" functions solely as an adverb. Syllabification and stress remain constant regardless of its grammatical role, as it doesn't have alternative forms based on grammatical function.

10. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner that is excessively or intensely inquisitive; in a very questioning or curious way.
  • Part of Speech: Adverb
  • Synonyms: inquisitively, curiously, questioningly, probingly
  • Antonyms: uncuriously, passively, uninterestedly
  • Examples: "She examined the evidence superinquisitively." "He questioned her superinquisitively about her whereabouts."

11. Phonological Comparison:

Word Syllables Syllable Structure
inquisitive in-quis-i-tive Similar complex onset (/kw/) and closed syllables.
superimpose su-per-im-pose Similar prefix "super-" and open/closed syllable alternation.
definitively de-fin-i-tive-ly Similar suffix "-ively" and closed syllable structure.

The syllable division in "superinquisitively" aligns with these similar words, demonstrating consistent application of English syllable division rules. The complexity arises from the combination of morphemes and the resulting length of the word.

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 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.