HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofunneighbourliness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-neigh-bour-li-ness

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

/ʌnˈneɪbəˌlɪnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('bour'). The stress pattern is typical for words with this morphological structure, where the root receives primary stress.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

neigh/neɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

bour/bə/

Open syllable, stressed.

li/lɪ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
neighbour(root)
+
-hoodliness(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: neighbour

Old English *nēahgebur*, person living nearby

Suffix: -hoodliness

Old English *-hād* and *-nes*, state/quality of being

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being unfriendly or unwelcoming.

Examples:

"Her unneighbourliness was evident in her refusal to help with the community garden."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

friendlinessfriend-li-ness

Similar suffix and morphological structure.

kindlinesskind-li-ness

Similar suffix and morphological structure.

businessbus-i-ness

Similar suffix and syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds, with consonants assigned to the syllable containing the adjacent vowel.

Maximize Onsets

Consonant clusters are typically included in the onset of the following syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The 'gh' digraph in 'neighbour' is silent, influencing vowel quality.

The 'our' digraph is pronounced /ə/ in this context.

Regional variations in vowel quality may exist.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'unneighbourliness' is divided into five syllables: un-neigh-bour-li-ness. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('bour'). It's a noun formed from the prefix 'un-', the root 'neighbour', and the suffixes '-hood' and '-liness'. The syllable division follows standard English rules prioritizing vowel sounds and maximizing onsets.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "unneighbourliness" presents challenges due to its length, complex morphology, and the presence of diphthongs and consonant clusters. British English pronunciation will be considered, which generally exhibits non-rhoticity (i.e., /r/ is not pronounced after vowels unless followed by a vowel).

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 word will be divided as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: neighbour (Old English nēahgebur) - Person living nearby.
  • Suffix: -hood (Old English -hād) - State or condition of being.
  • Suffix: -liness (Old English -nes) - Quality of being.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: un-neigh-bour-li-ness. This is typical for words with this morphological structure, where the root receives primary stress.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˈneɪbəˌlɪnəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • un-: /ʌn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
  • neigh-: /neɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) forms an open syllable. No exceptions.
  • bour-: /bə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) forms an open syllable. Exception: The 'our' digraph is pronounced /ə/.
  • li-: /lɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) at the end of the syllable. No exceptions.
  • ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) at the end of the syllable. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The 'gh' digraph in 'neighbour' is a potential edge case, as it can have different pronunciations. In this case, it's silent, influencing the vowel quality. The 'our' digraph is also a special case, as it is pronounced /ə/ in this context.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Unneighbourliness" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context (as it's not inflected).

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being unfriendly or unwelcoming.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: unfriendliness, hostility, coldness, aloofness
  • Antonyms: friendliness, hospitality, warmth, sociability
  • Examples: "Her unneighbourliness was evident in her refusal to help with the community garden."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents standard GB English, some regional variations might exist in vowel quality or stress placement, though these are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Friendliness: friend-li-ness (3 syllables) - Similar structure, stress on the second syllable.
  • Kindliness: kind-li-ness (3 syllables) - Similar structure, stress on the first syllable.
  • Business: bus-i-ness (3 syllables) - Similar suffix, stress on the first syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying weight and prominence of the root morpheme in each word. "Unneighbourliness" places more emphasis on the root "neighbour" due to its semantic importance.

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 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.