HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofexistentialistic

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ex-is-ten-tial-is-tic

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

/ˌɛɡzɪstenʃəˈlɪstɪk/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000101

Primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable ('lis' in 'tial-is-tic').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

ex/ɛks/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

is/ɪz/

Closed syllable.

ten/tɛn/

Closed syllable.

tial/ʃəl/

Closed syllable, complex consonant cluster.

is/ɪs/

Closed syllable.

tic/tɪk/

Closed syllable, final syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

ex-(prefix)
+
sist-(root)
+
-entialistic(suffix)

Prefix: ex-

Latin origin, meaning 'out of, from'

Root: sist-

Latin origin, from *sistere* meaning 'to stand, to set'

Suffix: -entialistic

Combination of Latin and Greek suffixes denoting quality and relating to a school of thought

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Relating to existentialism, a philosophical theory emphasizing individual freedom, responsibility, and subjectivity.

Examples:

"The author's existentialistic novel explored themes of alienation and meaninglessness."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

characteristicchar-ac-ter-is-tic

Similar syllable structure with alternating open and closed syllables.

statisticsta-tis-tic

Similar closed syllable structure.

realisticre-a-lis-tic

Similar open and closed syllable alternation.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Peak

Syllables are generally formed around a vowel sound. Each vowel sound typically forms the nucleus of a syllable.

Onset-Rime

Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonant sounds).

Maximizing Onsets

When dividing consonant clusters, consonants are assigned to the onset of the following syllable whenever possible.

Special Considerations

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

The consonant cluster '-stial-' requires careful consideration, but English allows for such clusters.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may exist, but do not affect the core syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'existentialistic' is divided into six syllables: ex-is-ten-tial-is-tic. The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable. The word is morphologically complex, with Latin and Greek roots and suffixes. Syllabification follows standard English rules of vowel peaks and maximizing onsets.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "existentialistic"

1. Pronunciation: The word "existentialistic" is pronounced /ˌɛɡzɪstenʃəˈlɪstɪk/ in US English.

2. Syllable Division: ex-is-ten-tial-is-tic

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: ex- (Latin, meaning "out of," "from") - functions to create a derivative.
  • Root: sist- (Latin sistere, meaning "to stand, to set") - core meaning relating to being or existence.
  • Suffix: -ential (Latin -entia, denoting a state or quality) - forms an adjective.
  • Suffix: -istic (Greek -istikos, forming an adjective relating to a school of thought or practice) - further modifies the adjective.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: /ˌɛɡzɪstenʃəˈlɪstɪk/.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌɛɡzɪstenʃəˈlɪstɪk/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • ex-: /ɛks/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound. No exceptions here.
  • is-: /ɪz/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllables end in a consonant sound. No exceptions.
  • ten-: /tɛn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllables end in a consonant sound. No exceptions.
  • tial-: /ʃəl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllables end in a consonant sound. Exception: The 't' is part of the following syllable due to the complex consonant cluster.
  • is-: /ɪs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllables end in a consonant sound. No exceptions.
  • tic: /tɪk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllables end in a consonant sound. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review: The consonant cluster "-stial-" presents a slight complexity. However, English allows for such clusters, and the division follows the principle of maximizing onsets.

8. Grammatical Role: "Existentialistic" primarily functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Relating to existentialism, a philosophical theory emphasizing individual freedom, responsibility, and subjectivity.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: philosophical, subjective, individualistic
  • Antonyms: objective, deterministic
  • Examples: "The author's existentialistic novel explored themes of alienation and meaninglessness."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables, but the core syllabification remains the same.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • characteristic: char-ac-ter-is-tic - Similar syllable structure with alternating open and closed syllables. Stress pattern is also similar (antepenultimate).
  • statistic: sta-tis-tic - Similar closed syllable structure. Stress on the penultimate syllable differs due to the shorter word length.
  • realistic: re-a-lis-tic - Similar open and closed syllable alternation. Stress pattern is similar (antepenultimate). The difference lies in the complexity of the initial consonant cluster in "existentialistic".
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/13/2025

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.