HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofnarrow-shouldered

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

nar-row-shoul-dered

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

/ˈnæroʊ ˈʃoʊldərd/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

1010

Primary stress falls on the first syllable of 'narrow' and 'shouldered'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

nar/nær/

Open syllable, stressed.

row/roʊ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

shoul/ʃoʊl/

Open syllable, stressed.

dered/dərd/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
narrow(root)
+
-shouldered(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: narrow

Old English *neorw* meaning 'narrow'

Suffix: -shouldered

Derived from 'shoulder' + '-ed', indicating a characteristic.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Having narrow shoulders.

Examples:

"He was a narrow-shouldered man."

"The coat fit her narrow-shouldered frame."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

followedfol-lowed

Similar VCV syllable structure and stress pattern.

borrowedbor-rowed

Similar VCV syllable structure and stress pattern.

shadowedshad-owed

Similar VCV syllable structure and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant-Vowel (VCV)

Syllables are divided between vowels.

Compound Word Division

Division occurs at the boundary between component words.

Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters remain intact within a syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The pronunciation of the '-ed' suffix can vary, but here it's /d/ due to the preceding /r/ sound.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'narrow-shouldered' is a compound adjective divided into four syllables (nar-row-shoul-dered). It's formed from the roots 'narrow' and 'shoulder' with the suffix '-ed'. Stress falls on the first syllable of each root. Syllabification follows standard English rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "narrow-shouldered"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "narrow-shouldered" is pronounced as /ˈnæroʊ ˈʃoʊldərd/. It's a compound adjective formed by combining "narrow" and "shouldered."

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: nar-row-shoul-dered

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: None
  • Root 1: narrow - Old English neorw meaning 'narrow'. Morphological function: Adjective base.
  • Root 2: shoulder - Old English sculdor meaning 'shoulder'. Morphological function: Noun base, acting adjectivally.
  • Suffix: -ed - Old English -ed. Morphological function: Forms the past tense/past participle of verbs, but here it functions to create an adjectival form indicating 'having shoulders of a certain type'.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the first syllable of each component word: nar-row shoul-dered.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈnæroʊ ˈʃoʊldərd/

6. Edge Case Review:

The compound adjective structure presents a slight edge case. While compound words often have a single primary stress, here, both "narrow" and "shouldered" retain their individual stress patterns, reflecting their original word status.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Narrow-shouldered" functions exclusively as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Having narrow shoulders.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: Sloping-shouldered, thin-shouldered
  • Antonyms: Broad-shouldered, wide-shouldered
  • Examples: "He was a narrow-shouldered man who always seemed to hunch over." "The coat fit well across her narrow-shouldered frame."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Followed: nar-rowed (similar syllable structure, stress on first syllable)
  • Borrowed: bor-rowed (similar syllable structure, stress on first syllable)
  • Shadowed: shad-owed (similar syllable structure, stress on first syllable)

The syllable division in all these words follows the V-C-V pattern where a vowel sound is followed by a consonant and then another vowel sound. The stress pattern is consistent in all three words, falling on the first syllable.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel-Consonant-Vowel (VCV): Syllables are typically divided between vowels. (nar-row, shoul-der)
  • Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable. (shoul-dered)
  • Compound Word Division: Compound words are divided at the juncture of the component words. (narrow-shouldered)

11. Special Considerations:

The "-ed" suffix is often pronounced as /d/, /t/, or /ɪd/ depending on the preceding sound. Here, it's /d/ due to the preceding /r/ sound.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., the /oʊ/ sound in "narrow" and "shoulder") might exist, but these do not significantly alter the syllable division.

13. Short Analysis:

"Narrow-shouldered" is a compound adjective divided into four syllables: nar-row-shoul-dered. It consists of the roots "narrow" and "shoulder" with the suffix "-ed". Primary stress falls on the first syllable of each root word. The syllabification follows standard English VCV and compound word division rules.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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.