HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofnonprofitability

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-prof-it-a-bil-i-ty

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

/ˌnɑnˈprɑfɪtəˈbɪləti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('it'). Secondary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('bil').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɑn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

prof/prɑf/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

it/ɪt/

Closed syllable, primary stressed.

a/ə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

bil/bɪl/

Closed syllable, secondary stressed.

i/i/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non(prefix)
+
profit(root)
+
ability(suffix)

Prefix: non

Latin origin, negation marker.

Root: profit

Latin origin (*proficere*), core meaning of financial gain.

Suffix: ability

Latin origin (*-abilitas*), forms abstract nouns denoting capability.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of not being profitable; the condition of not generating financial gain.

Examples:

"The nonprofit organization struggled with its financial sustainability due to the nonprofitability of its fundraising efforts."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

possibilitypos-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and similar syllable structure.

responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and similar syllable structure.

profitabilityprof-it-a-bil-i-ty

Shares the root 'profit' and suffix '-ability'.

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 split based on sonority.

Prefix/Suffix Rule

Prefixes and suffixes generally form separate syllables.

Stress-Timing Rule

English is a stress-timed language, syllables are adjusted to accommodate stressed syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The prefix 'non-' is treated as a separate syllable despite lacking a traditional vowel sound.

Vowel clusters are common and don't present unusual syllabification issues.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonprofitability' is divided into seven syllables: non-prof-it-a-bil-i-ty. It consists of the prefix 'non-', the root 'profit', and the suffix '-ability'. Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('it'), and secondary stress on the fifth ('bil'). Syllabification follows standard English vowel and consonant cluster rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "nonprofitability"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonprofitability" is pronounced /ˌnɑnˈprɑfɪtəˈbɪləti/ in General American English. It presents challenges due to its length, multiple prefixes, and vowel clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

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

non-prof-it-a-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: profit (Latin, proficere meaning "to make progress, to benefit") - Core meaning of financial gain.
  • Suffix: -ability (Latin, -abilitas) - Forms abstract nouns denoting capability or quality. This suffix is composed of -able (capable of being) + -ity (noun-forming suffix).

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: non-prof-it-a-bil-i-ty. Secondary stress falls on the fifth syllable: non-prof-it-a-bil-i-ty.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑnˈprɑfɪtəˈbɪləti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "it" within "profit" can sometimes be considered a weak syllable, but in this context, it receives stress. The vowel clusters (e.g., -a-bil-) are common in English and don't present unusual syllabification issues.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonprofitability" functions solely as a noun. As a noun, the stress pattern remains consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of not being profitable; the condition of not generating financial gain.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: unprofitableness, loss, deficit
  • Antonyms: profitability, gainfulness, success
  • Examples: "The nonprofit organization struggled with its financial sustainability due to the nonprofitability of its fundraising efforts."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • possibility: pos-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix -ity and syllable structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix -ity and syllable structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • profitability: prof-it-a-bil-i-ty - Shares the root "profit" and suffix "-ability". Stress falls on the third syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the third syllable in these words highlights the influence of the "-ity" suffix in determining stress placement. The prefix in "nonprofitability" adds a syllable but doesn't alter the core stress pattern established by the root and suffix.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split based on sonority (ease of articulation).
  • Prefix/Suffix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes generally form separate syllables.
  • Stress-Timing Rule: English is a stress-timed language, meaning syllables are adjusted in duration to accommodate stressed syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The prefix "non-" is often treated as a separate syllable, even though it doesn't contain a vowel sound in the traditional sense. This is due to its functional role as a negation marker.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might slightly alter vowel qualities, but the core syllable division remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.