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Hyphenation ofpersulphocyanate

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

per-sul-pho-cy-a-nate

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

/pərˈsʌlfəˌsaɪəneɪt/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001000

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('pho'). The first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

per/pər/

Open, unstressed syllable.

sul/sʌl/

Closed, unstressed syllable.

pho/foʊ/

Open, stressed syllable.

cy/saɪ/

Closed, unstressed syllable.

a/ə/

Open, unstressed syllable.

nate/neɪt/

Closed, unstressed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

per-(prefix)
+
sulpho-(root)
+
-cyanate(suffix)

Prefix: per-

Latin origin, meaning 'through' or 'completely', functions as an intensifier.

Root: sulpho-

Derived from sulfur, indicates the presence of sulfur.

Suffix: -cyanate

From cyanide, denotes a chemical compound containing a cyanate group.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A chemical compound containing a persulfate group and a cyanate group.

Examples:

"Potassium persulphocyanate is used in certain analytical procedures."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

sulphatesul-phate

Shares the 'sul-' syllable and similar chemical context.

cyanidecy-a-nide

Shares the '-cyan-' component.

phosphatepho-sphate

Similar structure with the '-phate' ending.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC)

Applied to syllables like 'sul' and 'nate' where a vowel is followed by two consonants.

Vowel-Consonant (VC)

Applied to syllables like 'per' and 'pho' where a vowel is followed by a consonant.

Diphthong-Consonant

Applied to syllables like 'cy' where a diphthong is followed by a consonant.

Single Vowel

Applied to syllables like 'a' where a single vowel stands alone.

Special Considerations

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

The 'ph' digraph is treated as a single phoneme /f/.

The syllable division of 'sul' could be debated, but the vowel sound clearly separates it.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'persulphocyanate' is divided into six syllables: per-sul-pho-cy-a-nate. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('pho'). It's a noun composed of the prefix 'per-', the root 'sulpho-', and the suffix '-cyanate', denoting a specific chemical compound.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "persulphocyanate"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "persulphocyanate" is pronounced /pərˈsʌlfəˌsaɪəneɪt/ in US English. It's a complex word with multiple syllables and a relatively uncommon structure.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: per-sul-pho-cy-a-nate

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: per- (Latin, meaning "through," "thoroughly," or "completely"). Morphological function: intensifier.
  • Root: sulpho- (derived from sulfur, Latin sulfur). Morphological function: indicates the presence of sulfur.
  • Suffix: -cyanate (from cyanide, ultimately from Greek kyanos "dark blue"). Morphological function: denotes a chemical compound containing a cyanate group.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: per-sul-pho-cy-a-nate.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/pərˈsʌlfəˌsaɪəneɪt/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-sul-" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, it's clearly a distinct syllable due to the vowel sound. The "cy" digraph is treated as a single unit before a vowel.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Persulphocyanate" primarily functions as a noun, specifically a chemical compound. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A chemical compound containing a persulfate group and a cyanate group.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: None readily available (it's a specific chemical compound).
  • Antonyms: N/A
  • Examples: "Potassium persulphocyanate is used in certain analytical procedures."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Sulphate: sul-phate. Similar structure with the "sul-" syllable. Stress falls on the second syllable.
  • Cyanide: cy-a-nide. Shares the "-cyan-" component. Stress falls on the second syllable.
  • Phosphate: pho-sphate. Similar structure with the "-phate" ending. Stress falls on the second syllable.

The difference in stress placement in "persulphocyanate" is due to the prefix "per-" adding weight to the earlier syllables, shifting the primary stress to the third syllable.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

  • per: /pər/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
  • sul: /sʌl/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel surrounded by consonants.
  • pho: /foʊ/ - Open syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
  • cy: /saɪ/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Diphthong followed by consonant.
  • a: /ə/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Single vowel.
  • nate: /neɪt/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster.

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC): Applied to "sul" and "nate" syllables.
  • Vowel-Consonant (VC): Applied to "per" and "pho" syllables.
  • Diphthong-Consonant (diphthong-C): Applied to "cy" syllable.
  • Single Vowel: Applied to "a" syllable.

12. Special Considerations:

The "ph" digraph is treated as a single phoneme /f/. The "sul" syllable could potentially be debated, but the vowel sound clearly separates it.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Minor variations in vowel quality might occur depending on regional accents, but the syllable division remains consistent.

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

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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.