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Hyphenation ofmetre-kilogram-second

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

me-tre-ki-lo-gram-se-cond

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

/ˈmiːtər ˈkɪloʊˌɡræm ˈsɛkənd/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

10 10 10

Primary stress on the first syllable of 'metre', the second syllable of 'kilogram', and the first syllable of 'second'

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

me/miː/

Open syllable, onset 'm', rime 'iː'

tre/tər/

Closed syllable, onset 't', rime 'ər'

ki/kɪ/

Open syllable, onset 'k', rime 'ɪ'

lo/loʊ/

Open syllable, onset 'l', rime 'oʊ'

gram/ɡræm/

Closed syllable, onset 'ɡr', rime 'æm'

se/sɛ/

Open syllable, onset 's', rime 'ɛ'

cond/kənd/

Closed syllable, onset 'k', rime 'ənd

Morphemic Breakdown

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

kilo-(prefix)
+
metre, gram, second(root)
+
none(suffix)

Prefix: kilo-

Greek origin, meaning 'thousand', multiplicative prefix

Root: metre, gram, second

Greek/Latin origins, representing units of measurement

Suffix: none

none

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A system of units based on the metre, kilogram, and second.

Examples:

"The experiment was conducted using the metre-kilogram-second system."

Synonyms: MKS system
Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

waterwa-ter

Similar onset-rime structure in each syllable.

computercom-pu-ter

Demonstrates multiple syllables with varying onset-rime combinations.

importantim-por-tant

Shows consonant clusters at the beginning of syllables.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Syllables are divided based on vowel sounds, with consonants preceding vowels forming the onset and the vowel and following consonants forming the rime.

Vowel-Centric

Each syllable typically contains one vowel sound.

Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are maintained within syllables unless they can be naturally split based on pronunciation.

Special Considerations

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

Compound word structure requiring independent syllabification of components.

The spelling 'metre' is a British variant, but doesn't alter the syllabification rules.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'metre-kilogram-second' is syllabified based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters, resulting in seven syllables. Stress falls on the first syllable of 'metre', the second syllable of 'kilogram', and the first syllable of 'second'. The word is a compound noun representing a system of units.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "metre-kilogram-second" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "metre-kilogram-second" presents challenges due to its compound nature and the presence of the less common spelling "metre" (a British variant often used in scientific contexts). The pronunciation will be based on a General American accent, acknowledging the potential for slight variations.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and consonant clusters, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • metre: Prefix: none; Root: metre (Greek metron meaning "measure"); Suffix: none. Origin: Greek. Function: Unit of measurement.
  • kilo-: Prefix: kilo- (Greek khilioi meaning "thousand"); Origin: Greek. Function: Multiplier indicating 1000.
  • gram: Root: gram (Greek gramma meaning "weight"); Origin: Greek. Function: Unit of weight.
  • second: Root: second (Latin secundus meaning "following"); Origin: Latin. Function: Unit of time.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable of "metre", and the second syllable of "kilogram", and the first syllable of "second".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈmiːtər ˈkɪloʊˌɡræm ˈsɛkənd/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Explanation Potential Exceptions
me- /miː/ Onset-Rime: 'm' is the onset, 'ee' is the rime. Vowel followed by consonant. None
tre /tər/ Onset-Rime: 't' is the onset, 'er' is the rime. Consonant followed by vowel. None
ki- /kɪ/ Onset-Rime: 'k' is the onset, 'i' is the rime. Vowel followed by consonant. None
lo- /loʊ/ Onset-Rime: 'l' is the onset, 'oʊ' is the rime. Diphthong. None
gram /ɡræm/ Onset-Rime: 'ɡ' is the onset, 'ræm' is the rime. Consonant cluster followed by vowel. None
se- /sɛ/ Onset-Rime: 's' is the onset, 'ɛ' is the rime. Vowel followed by consonant. None
cond /kənd/ Onset-Rime: 'k' is the onset, 'ənd' is the rime. Consonant cluster followed by vowel. None

7. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration. Each component ("metre", "kilogram", "second") is syllabified independently before being combined. The hyphenation reflects this.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word functions as a compound noun, representing a system of units. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The International System of Units (SI) based on the metre, kilogram, and second.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: MKS system
  • Antonyms: None (it's a system of measurement)
  • Examples: "The experiment was conducted using the metre-kilogram-second system."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

The spelling "metre" is more common in British English, where it's pronounced /ˈmiːtə/. This doesn't significantly alter the syllabification, but the vowel sound differs.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • water: wa-ter (/ˈwɔːtər/) - Similar onset-rime structure in each syllable.
  • computer: com-pu-ter (/kəmˈpjuːtər/) - Demonstrates multiple syllables with varying onset-rime combinations.
  • important: im-por-tant (/ɪmˈpɔːrtənt/) - Shows consonant clusters at the beginning of syllables.

The syllable division in "metre-kilogram-second" follows the same principles of vowel-centered syllables and consonant cluster handling as these other words. The complexity arises from the compound structure, but the underlying rules remain consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/5/2025

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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.