HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofneuropsychological

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

neu-ro-psy-cho-log-i-cal

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

/ˌnʊəroʊˌsaɪkoʊləˈdʒɪkəl/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000101

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('log'), indicated by '1'. All other syllables are unstressed ('0').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

neu/nuː/

Open syllable, initial vowel.

ro/roʊ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

psy/saɪ/

Open syllable, diphthong followed by consonant.

cho/koʊ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

log/lɒɡ/

Closed syllable, CVC structure.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, weak vowel.

cal/kəl/

Closed syllable, CVC structure.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

neuro-(prefix)
+
psych-(root)
+
-o-log-ical(suffix)

Prefix: neuro-

Greek origin, relating to the nervous system

Root: psych-

Greek origin, meaning 'mind'

Suffix: -o-log-ical

Greek and Latin origins, forming a field of study and an adjective

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Relating to the study of the relationship between the brain and behavior.

Examples:

"The patient underwent neuropsychological testing."

"Neuropsychological rehabilitation can help improve cognitive function."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

psychologicalpsy-cho-log-i-cal

Shared root and suffix, similar stress pattern.

sociologicalso-ci-o-log-i-cal

Similar suffix and stress pattern.

biologicalbi-o-log-i-cal

Similar suffix and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are often broken up to create syllables.

Stress Rule

Stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable in words ending in '-ical'.

Morpheme Boundary Rule

Syllable boundaries often align with morpheme boundaries.

Special Considerations

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

The length and complex morphology of the word require careful consideration of morpheme boundaries.

Vowel clusters do not present unusual syllabification challenges.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Neuropsychological is a seven-syllable adjective with stress on the penultimate syllable. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel sounds and morpheme boundaries, with a Greek and Latin etymological origin.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "neuropsychological"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "neuropsychological" is pronounced /ˌnʊəroʊˌsaɪkoʊləˈdʒɪkəl/ in US English. It presents challenges due to its length, multiple morphemes, and vowel clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: neuro- (Greek, meaning "nerve") - functions as a combining form indicating relation to the nervous system.
  • Root: psych- (Greek, meaning "mind, soul") - the core meaning relating to the mental processes.
  • Suffix: -o- (Greek, connecting vowel) - used to connect root and suffix.
  • Suffix: -log- (Greek, meaning "study of, word, reason") - indicates a field of study.
  • Suffix: -ical (Latin, meaning "relating to") - forms an adjective.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌnʊəroʊˌsaɪkoʊləˈdʒɪkəl/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnʊəroʊˌsaɪkoʊləˈdʒɪkəl/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

  • neu-: /nuː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: Initial vowel often creates a syllable on its own.
  • ro-: /roʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
  • psy-: /saɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Diphthong followed by consonant(s).
  • cho-: /koʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
  • log-: /lɒɡ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) structure.
  • i-: /ˈɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel. This is a weak syllable, often reduced.
  • cal: /kəl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) structure.

7. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-psycho-" is a common morphemic unit, and its syllabification is generally consistent. The vowel clusters (e.g., "oi" in psycho) are typical in English and don't present unusual syllabification challenges.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Neuropsychological" primarily functions as an adjective. As an adjective, the stress pattern remains consistent. It doesn't readily convert to other parts of speech without significant morphological changes.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Relating to the study of the relationship between the brain and behavior.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: Psychological, neurological, behavioral
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Examples: "The patient underwent neuropsychological testing." "Neuropsychological rehabilitation can help improve cognitive function."

10. Phonological Comparison:

  • psychological: /ˌsaɪkəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/ - Syllables: psy-cho-log-i-cal. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • sociological: /ˌsoʊʃiəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/ - Syllables: so-ci-o-log-i-cal. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • biological: /ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/ - Syllables: bi-o-log-i-cal. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.

The consistent stress pattern and syllabification in these words demonstrate the regular application of English stress rules to words ending in "-ological" or "-ical". The primary difference lies in the initial consonant clusters and vowel sounds, which affect the specific syllable boundaries.

11. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: A vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often broken up to create syllables, but not always (e.g., "psych").
  • Stress Rule: Stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable in words ending in "-ical".
  • Morpheme Boundary Rule: Syllable boundaries often align with morpheme boundaries.

12. Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful consideration of morpheme boundaries. While the rules are generally consistent, the vowel clusters and the presence of the combining form "neuro-" add complexity.

13. Short Analysis:

"Neuropsychological" is a seven-syllable adjective with primary stress on the penultimate syllable. It's formed from Greek and Latin roots and suffixes, and its syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel sounds and morpheme boundaries.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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.