HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofcomplimentariness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

com-pli-men-ta-ri-ness

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

/kɑmplɪˈmɛntərɪnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

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

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

com/kɑm/

Open syllable, onset 'c', nucleus 'ɑ'

pli/plɪ/

Closed syllable, onset 'pl', nucleus 'ɪ'

men/mɛn/

Open syllable, onset 'm', nucleus 'ɛ'

ta/tə/

Open syllable, onset 't', nucleus 'ə'

ri/rɪ/

Closed syllable, onset 'r', nucleus 'ɪ'

ness/nəs/

Open syllable, onset 'n', nucleus 'ə'

Morphemic Breakdown

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

com-(prefix)
+
pliment(root)
+
-ness(suffix)

Prefix: com-

Latin origin, intensifier

Root: pliment

Latin origin (complere), meaning 'to fulfill'

Suffix: -ness

Old English origin, noun forming

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being complimentary.

Examples:

"Her complimentariness made everyone feel valued."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

familiarityfa-mil-i-ar-i-ty

Shares the '-arity' suffix and similar stress pattern.

regularityreg-u-lar-i-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and a comparable syllable structure.

popularitypop-u-lar-i-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and a similar number of syllables.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime Division

Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and the rime (vowel and any following consonants).

Vowel Sound Dictates Syllable Boundary

Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within the onset or coda of a syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The schwa sound (/ə/) in unstressed syllables is common and doesn't affect syllabification.

The word's length and complexity require careful application of vowel-based syllabification rules.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Complimentariness is a seven-syllable noun with primary stress on the fourth syllable. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters. The word is morphologically complex, built from a Latin prefix, root, and suffixes.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "complimentariness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "complimentariness" is pronounced /kɑmplɪˈmɛntərɪnəs/ (General American English). It's a relatively complex word with multiple syllables and a mix of vowel qualities.

2. Syllable Division:

com-pli-men-ta-ri-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: com- (Latin, meaning "with, together") - functions as an intensifier or to create a reciprocal relationship.
  • Root: pliment (from Latin complere meaning "to fulfill, complete") - relates to pleasing or fulfilling.
  • Suffix: -ary (Latin, forming adjectives relating to a thing or quality) - creates an adjective.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English, forming nouns denoting a state or quality) - creates a noun.
  • Interfix: -e- (often used to connect root and suffix)

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /kɑmplɪˈmɛntərɪnəs/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɑmplɪˈmɛntərɪnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-ment-" can sometimes be a point of syllabification ambiguity, but in this case, it's clearly part of the "men" syllable due to the vowel sound. The "-ar-" sequence is also a common syllable boundary.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Complimentariness" functions solely as a noun. There are no significant syllabification or stress shifts if it were to hypothetically function as another part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being complimentary; the tendency to express praise or admiration.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: flattery, adulation, praise, graciousness
  • Antonyms: criticism, disparagement, censure
  • Examples: "Her complimentariness made everyone feel valued." "The politician's complimentariness was seen as insincere."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Similarity: familiarity (fa-mil-i-ar-i-ty) - Both words share the "-arity" suffix and a similar stress pattern. The syllable division is consistent.
  • Similarity: regularity (reg-u-lar-i-ty) - Similar suffix "-ity" and a comparable syllable structure.
  • Similarity: popularity (pop-u-lar-i-ty) - Again, the "-ity" suffix and a similar number of syllables.

The differences in syllable division arise from the differing consonant clusters at the beginning of the root (compl-, reg-, pop-).

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
com /kɑm/ Open syllable, onset 'c', nucleus 'ɑ' Onset-Rime division, vowel sound dictates syllable boundary None
pli /plɪ/ Closed syllable, onset 'pl', nucleus 'ɪ' Consonant cluster 'pl' remains in the onset, vowel sound dictates syllable boundary None
men /mɛn/ Open syllable, onset 'm', nucleus 'ɛ' Vowel sound dictates syllable boundary None
ta /tə/ Open syllable, onset 't', nucleus 'ə' Vowel sound dictates syllable boundary Schwa vowel is common in unstressed syllables
ri /rɪ/ Closed syllable, onset 'r', nucleus 'ɪ' Consonant 'r' forms the onset, vowel sound dictates syllable boundary None
ness /nəs/ Open syllable, onset 'n', nucleus 'ə' Vowel sound dictates syllable boundary Schwa vowel is common in unstressed syllables

Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset-Rime Division: Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and the rime (vowel and any following consonants).
  • Vowel Sound Dictates Syllable Boundary: Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within the onset or coda of a syllable.

Special Considerations:

The schwa sound (/ə/) in the unstressed syllables is a common feature of English pronunciation and doesn't affect the syllabification rules. The word's length and complexity require careful application of the vowel-based syllabification rules.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "compli-" to a schwa, but this doesn't change the syllable division. Regional accents might affect the vowel quality, but the core syllabification remains consistent.

Short Analysis:

"Complimentariness" is a seven-syllable noun with primary stress on the fourth syllable. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters. The word is morphologically complex, built from a Latin prefix, root, and suffixes.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

The hottest word splits in English (US)

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.