HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofperifolliculitis

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

pe-ri-fol-li-cu-li-tis

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

/ˌpɛrɪfoʊlɪˈkjuːlɪtɪs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000001

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('tis'). Secondary stress on the first syllable ('pe').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

pe/pi/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ri/ri/

Open syllable, unstressed.

fol/foʊl/

Open syllable, unstressed.

li/li/

Open syllable, unstressed.

cu/kjuː/

Open syllable, unstressed.

li/li/

Open syllable, unstressed.

tis/tɪs/

Closed syllable, stressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

peri-(prefix)
+
follicul-(root)
+
-itis(suffix)

Prefix: peri-

Greek origin, meaning 'around, surrounding'; locative prefix.

Root: follicul-

Latin origin (folliculus), relating to hair follicles.

Suffix: -itis

Greek origin, denoting inflammation.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Inflammation of the hair follicles.

Examples:

"The dermatologist diagnosed the patient with perifolliculitis."

"Proper hygiene can help prevent perifolliculitis."

Synonyms: Folliculitis
Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Folliclefol-li-cle

Shares the 'follic-' root.

Inflammationin-fla-ma-tion

Shares the '-tion' suffix.

Dermatitisder-ma-ti-tis

Shares the '-itis' suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Attempting to create syllables with maximal onsets (e.g., 'fol' rather than 'fo-l').

Vowel-Centric Syllabification

Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.

Stress-Timing

English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable duration and prominence.

Special Considerations

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

The word is relatively uncommon, and pronunciation may vary slightly.

The 'peri-' prefix can sometimes be reduced to /pə/.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Perifolliculitis is a seven-syllable noun with primary stress on the penultimate syllable. It's composed of the Greek prefix 'peri-', the Latin root 'follicul-', and the Greek suffix '-itis'. Syllabification follows onset maximization and vowel-centric principles.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "perifolliculitis"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "perifolliculitis" is pronounced /ˌpɛrɪfoʊlɪˈkjuːlɪtɪs/ in US English. It's a relatively complex word with multiple morphemes and a somewhat unusual stress pattern.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets, is: pe-ri-fol-li-cu-li-tis.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: peri- (Greek, meaning "around," "surrounding") - functions as a locative prefix.
  • Root: follicul- (Latin, from folliculus, diminutive of follicum meaning "small bag," referring to hair follicles) - the core meaning relating to hair follicles.
  • Suffix: -itis (Greek, meaning "inflammation") - indicates a condition of inflammation.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌpɛrɪfoʊlɪˈkjuːlɪtɪs/. The secondary stress is on the first syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌpɛrɪfoʊlɪˈkjuːlɪtɪs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-licul-" presents a potential challenge. The rule of maximizing onsets favors placing the 'l' with the following vowel, but the consonant cluster 'lic' is permissible in English.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Perifolliculitis" functions solely as a noun, denoting a medical condition. Therefore, there are no syllabification or stress shifts based on grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Inflammation of the hair follicles.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: Folliculitis (a broader term)
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable (it's a disease state)
  • Examples:
    • "The dermatologist diagnosed the patient with perifolliculitis."
    • "Proper hygiene can help prevent perifolliculitis."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Follicle: fol-li-cle. Similar structure with the 'follic-' root. Stress falls on the first syllable.
  • Inflammation: in-fla-ma-tion. Shares the '-tion' suffix. Stress falls on the second syllable.
  • Dermatitis: der-ma-ti-tis. Shares the '-itis' suffix. Stress falls on the second syllable.

The difference in stress placement in "perifolliculitis" is due to the length and complexity of the word, and the presence of the prefix 'peri-'. The longer the word, the more likely it is to have multiple syllables and a shifted stress pattern.

10. Division Rules:

  • Onset Maximization: Attempting to create syllables with maximal onsets (e.g., 'fol' rather than 'fo-l').
  • Vowel-Centric Syllabification: Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.
  • Stress-Timing: English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable duration and prominence.

11. Special Considerations:

The word is relatively uncommon, and pronunciation may vary slightly among speakers. The 'peri-' prefix can sometimes be reduced to /pə/, but the full form is more common in formal contexts.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the primary pronunciation is /ˌpɛrɪfoʊlɪˈkjuːlɪtɪs/, some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel sounds or alter the stress pattern, though this is not considered standard.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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.