HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofphalacrocoracidae

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

Pha-la-cro-co-ra-ci-dae

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

/ˌfæləkroʊkɔːrəˈsaɪdiː/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001001

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('co'), 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

Pha/fæ/

Open syllable, onset 'f', rhyme 'æ'

la/lə/

Open syllable, onset 'l', rhyme 'ə'

cro/kroʊ/

Closed syllable, onset 'kr', rhyme 'oʊ'

co/kɔː/

Open syllable, onset 'k', rhyme 'ɔː'

ra/rə/

Open syllable, onset 'r', rhyme 'ə'

ci/saɪ/

Closed syllable, onset 's', rhyme 'aɪ'

dae/diː/

Closed syllable, onset 'd', rhyme 'iː'

Morphemic Breakdown

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

Phalacro-(prefix)
+
-corac-(root)
+
-idae(suffix)

Prefix: Phalacro-

Greek origin, meaning 'bald' or 'bare', descriptive element

Root: -corac-

Greek origin, meaning 'raven', refers to plumage

Suffix: -idae

Latin origin, denotes a family name in biological classification

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The family of cormorants and shags, a group of waterbirds.

Examples:

"The researchers studied the breeding habits of the *Phalacrocoracidae*."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

HippopotamidaeHi-ppo-po-ta-mi-dae

Shares the *-idae* suffix and a similar multi-syllabic structure.

CanidaeCa-ni-dae

Shares the *-idae* suffix and a simpler syllabic structure.

FelidaeFe-li-dae

Shares the *-idae* suffix and a similar syllabic structure to Canidae.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rhyme Structure

Each syllable is divided into an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rhyme (vowel and any following consonants).

Vowel Length

Vowel length can be influenced by following consonants, as seen in the 'co' syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The word's complexity stems from its Greek and Latin roots, resulting in unusual consonant clusters and vowel combinations.

Pronunciation variations may occur regionally, but do not significantly alter the syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Phalacrocoracidae is a seven-syllable noun denoting the cormorant family. Syllabification follows standard English onset-rhyme structure, with primary stress on the fourth syllable. Its morphemic structure reveals Greek and Latin origins related to the bird's appearance and taxonomic classification.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "Phalacrocoracidae"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "Phalacrocoracidae" is the scientific name for the family of cormorants and shags. Its pronunciation in US English is complex due to its Greek and Latin roots. It's generally pronounced as /ˌfæləkroʊkɔːrəˈsaɪdiː/.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: Phalacro- (Greek phalakros meaning "bald" or "bare") - Descriptive element relating to the bird's appearance.
  • Root: -corac- (Greek korax meaning "raven") - Refers to the bird's dark plumage and somewhat raven-like appearance.
  • Suffix: -idae (Latin suffix denoting a family name in biological classification) - Indicates a family within a taxonomic hierarchy.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ˌfæləkroʊkɔːrəˈsaɪdiː/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌfæləkroʊkɔːrəˈsaɪdiː/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • Syllable 1: Pha- /fæ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rhyme structure. 'Ph' represents /f/ in this context. No exceptions.
  • Syllable 2: la- /lə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rhyme structure. No exceptions.
  • Syllable 3: cro- /kroʊ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster allowed in the onset. Diphthong /oʊ/ forms the rhyme. No exceptions.
  • Syllable 4: co- /kɔː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rhyme structure. Vowel lengthening due to following 'r'. No exceptions.
  • Syllable 5: ra- /rə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rhyme structure. Schwa vowel. No exceptions.
  • Syllable 6: ci- /saɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset-Rhyme structure. Diphthong /aɪ/ forms the rhyme. No exceptions.
  • Syllable 7: dae /diː/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset-Rhyme structure. Long vowel /iː/. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The word is relatively straightforward in its syllabification. The main complexity arises from the unusual consonant clusters and vowel combinations inherited from its Greek and Latin roots.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Phalacrocoracidae" functions exclusively as a noun – a taxonomic family name. Syllabification and stress remain constant regardless of its grammatical role (as it has only one).

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The family Phalacrocoracidae comprises the cormorants and shags, a group of approximately 40 species of waterbirds found in most parts of the world.
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Translation: (N/A - English word)
  • Synonyms: Cormorant family, Shag family
  • Antonyms: (N/A - taxonomic classification doesn't have antonyms)
  • Examples: "The researchers studied the breeding habits of the Phalacrocoracidae in the Galapagos Islands."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Pronunciation can vary slightly based on regional accents. Some speakers might reduce the vowel in the second syllable to a schwa /ˌfæləkroʊkɔːrəˈsaɪdiː/. This wouldn't significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Hippopotamidae: Hi-ppo-po-ta-mi-dae. Similar structure with multiple syllables and Latinate suffixes. Stress pattern is different.
  • Canidae: Ca-ni-dae. Shorter, but shares the -idae suffix and similar syllabic structure.
  • Felidae: Fe-li-dae. Similar to Canidae, demonstrating the consistent syllabification of the -idae suffix.
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 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.