swaddlingclothes
The word 'swaddling-clothes' is divided into three syllables: swad-dling-clothes. It consists of an Old English prefix 'swad-', a diminutive root '-ling', and a suffix '-clothes'. The primary stress falls on the second syllable ('dling'). Syllable division follows standard vowel-consonant rules, with considerations for consonant clusters and diphthongs.
Definitions
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the second syllable ('dling'). Secondary stress on 'clothes'.
Syllables
swad — Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant(s).. dling — Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.. clothes — Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster, containing a diphthong.
Word Parts
Vowel-Consonant Division
Syllables are typically divided after a vowel sound, especially when followed by one or more consonants.
Consonant Cluster Division
When a vowel is followed by a consonant cluster, the syllable break occurs before the cluster.
- The hyphenated spelling is a historical convention, but pronunciation treats it as a single word.
- The 'dl' consonant cluster is relatively uncommon but permissible in English.
- The 'oe' diphthong is a common feature of English pronunciation.
Nearby Words
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