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Hyphenation ofsupermetropolitan

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

su-per-me-tro-pol-i-tan

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

/ˌsuːpəˌmetrəˈpɒlɪtən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000100

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('pol'), indicated by '1'. All other syllables are unstressed ('0').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

su/suː/

Open syllable, initial syllable, vowel is long.

per/pə/

Open syllable, reduced vowel, unstressed.

me/me/

Open syllable, unstressed.

tro/trə/

Open syllable, reduced vowel, unstressed.

pol/pɒl/

Closed syllable, stressed, vowel is open-back rounded.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, reduced vowel, unstressed.

tan/tən/

Closed syllable, reduced vowel, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

super-(prefix)
+
metro-politan(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix: super-

Latin origin, derivational prefix meaning 'above' or 'excessively'.

Root: metro-politan

Combination of Greek 'metro-' (measure) and Latin 'politanus' (city-dweller).

Suffix:

None

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Extremely large, important, and influential; relating to a very large city or metropolitan area.

Examples:

"The supermetropolitan region of London attracts people from all over the world."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

metropolitanme-tro-pol-i-tan

Shares the 'politan' root and similar syllable structure.

internationalin-ter-na-tion-al

Similar length and complexity, with multiple syllables and a stress pattern on the antepenultimate syllable.

subterraneansub-ter-ra-ne-an

Similar syllable count and vowel sounds, demonstrating consistent application of syllable division rules.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Prioritizes creating syllables with consonant clusters at the beginning (onsets) whenever possible.

Avoid Stranded Consonants

Prevents leaving single consonants at the end of a syllable without a following vowel.

Vowel as Syllable Nucleus

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound (nucleus).

Special Considerations

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

Potential reduction of /trə/ to /tə/ in rapid speech, though the full form is more common in careful articulation.

The 'i' in 'politan' is often a close front unrounded vowel /ɪ/.

The word's length and complexity require careful consideration of stress placement.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'supermetropolitan' is divided into seven syllables: su-per-me-tro-pol-i-tan. Stress falls on the fifth syllable ('pol'). It's morphologically composed of the prefix 'super-', and the root 'metro-politan'. Syllable division follows the principles of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, typical for English. It functions primarily as an adjective describing a very large and influential city.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "supermetropolitan" is a complex compound word. Pronunciation in GB English generally follows standard Received Pronunciation (RP) or General British tendencies. Vowel qualities will be key, and the potential for reduced vowels in unstressed syllables needs consideration.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, which prioritize maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, the division will be as follows (detailed in the JSON output).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over," or "excessively") - derivational prefix, intensifying the meaning.
  • Root: metro- (Greek, meaning "measure") - contributing to the concept of a large or important city.
  • Root: politan (Latin politanus, from polis "city") - relating to a city.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: su-per-me-tro-pol-i-tan. This is typical for words of this length and structure in English.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsuːpəˌmetrəˈpɒlɪtən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence /trə/ can sometimes be reduced to /trə/ or /tə/ in rapid speech, but the full form is more common in careful articulation. The 'i' in 'politan' is often a close front unrounded vowel /ɪ/.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Supermetropolitan" functions primarily as an adjective. While it could theoretically be used as a noun (referring to a person from a supermetropolitan area), this is extremely rare. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Extremely large, important, and influential; relating to a very large city or metropolitan area.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: Cosmopolitan, megalopolitan, vast, extensive.
  • Antonyms: Provincial, rural, small-town.
  • Examples: "The supermetropolitan region of London attracts people from all over the world."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Metropolitan: met-ro-pol-i-tan - Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • International: in-ter-na-tion-al - Similar length and complexity, stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
  • Subterranean: sub-ter-ra-ne-an - Similar vowel sounds and syllable count, stress on the antepenultimate syllable.

The differences in syllable division arise from the prefixes and the specific consonant clusters present in each word. The rule of maximizing onsets is consistently applied.

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.