HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofextra-illustrate

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ex-tra-il-lus-trate

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

/ˌɛkstrəɪˈlʌstrət/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('lus'). The first and last syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

ex-tra/ɛkstrə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

il-lus/ɪˈlʌs/

Open syllable, stressed.

trate/trət/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

extra-(prefix)
+
illustrate(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix: extra-

Latin origin, intensifier

Root: illustrate

Latin origin, to enlighten

Suffix:

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To add illustrations to, especially beyond what is normally required; to embellish with pictures.

Examples:

"The artist extra-illustrated the edition of the novel with beautiful watercolors."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

illustrateil-lus-trate

Shares the root and similar VCV syllable structure.

calculatecal-cu-late

Similar VCV syllable structure.

navigatena-vi-gate

Similar VCV syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

VCV Rule

When a vowel is followed by a consonant and then another vowel, the consonant usually joins the second syllable.

CVC Rule

When a consonant is surrounded by vowels, it typically joins the following syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The 'x' in 'extra' is a digraph representing /ks/ but is treated as a single unit for syllabification.

Potential vowel reduction in the first syllable in rapid speech.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'extra-illustrate' is divided into five syllables: ex-tra-il-lus-trate. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('lus'). Syllabification follows the VCV rule, with the consonant typically joining the following vowel. The prefix 'extra-' and root 'illustrate' are of Latin origin.

Detailed Analysis:

1. IPA Transcription: /ˌɛkstrəɪˈlʌstrət/

2. Morphemic Breakdown:

  • Prefix: extra- (Latin, meaning "beyond, outside of") - intensifier.
  • Root: illustrate (Latin illustrare - "to light up, enlighten") - to clarify, explain, or depict.
  • Suffix: None.

3. Stressed Syllable(s): The primary stress falls on the third syllable: lus.

4. Syllables List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

  • ex-tra /ɛkstrə/ - Syllable division occurs after a single consonant between two vowels. Rule: VCV (Vowel-Consonant-Vowel) - the consonant typically goes with the following vowel. Exception: The 'x' represents two phonemes /ks/, but is treated as a single unit for syllabification.
  • il-lus-trate /ɪˈlʌstrət/ - Syllable division occurs after a single consonant between two vowels. Rule: VCV. The 'l' goes with the following vowel. The second division occurs after the 's' consonant cluster.
  • -trate /trət/ - Syllable division occurs after the 't' consonant. Rule: CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) - the consonant typically goes with the following vowel.

5. Syllable Division Rule Explanations:

  • VCV Rule: When a vowel is followed by a consonant and then another vowel, the consonant usually joins the second syllable. This is the dominant rule in English syllabification.
  • CVC Rule: When a consonant is surrounded by vowels, it typically joins the following syllable.

6. Potential Exceptions/Special Cases:

  • The 'x' in 'extra' is a digraph representing /ks/. While it functions as a single phoneme, it's treated as a unit for syllabification purposes.
  • Compound words and hyphenated words can sometimes have different syllabification patterns, but 'extra-illustrate' is treated as a single lexical item.

7. Exceptions/Special Cases for the Word as a Whole:

  • The initial 'ex-' can sometimes be pronounced as /ɛks/ in rapid speech, but the syllabification remains consistent.

8. Syllabification and Parts of Speech:

  • 'Illustrate' can function as a verb. The syllabification remains the same regardless of its grammatical role. The stress pattern also remains consistent.

9. Definition of the Word:

  • extra-illustrate (verb) - To add illustrations to, especially beyond what is normally required; to embellish with pictures.
    • Translation: N/A (English word)
    • Synonyms: embellish, decorate, augment, enhance
    • Antonyms: simplify, reduce, diminish
    • Examples: "The artist extra-illustrated the edition of the novel with beautiful watercolors."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

  • Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the first syllable (/ɛkstrə/) to a schwa (/əstrə/), but this doesn't affect the syllabification.
  • Regional accents might influence the pronunciation of vowels, but the core syllabic structure remains consistent.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • illustrate /ɪˈlʌstreɪt/ - Syllables: il-lus-trate. Similar VCV pattern.
  • calculate /ˈkælkjʊleɪt/ - Syllables: cal-cu-late. Similar VCV pattern.
  • navigate /ˈnævɪɡeɪt/ - Syllables: na-vi-gate. Similar VCV pattern.

The consistency in VCV syllabification across these words demonstrates the rule's prevalence in English. The difference lies in the initial consonant cluster in 'extra-illustrate' which is handled as a single unit for syllabification.

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 process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.