HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofquasi-intelligently

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

qua-si-in-tel-li-gent-ly

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

/ˈkweɪzi ɪnˈtɛlədʒəntli/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010001

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('tel'), creating a rhythmic pattern typical of English adverbs.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

qua/kwɑː/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

si/zi/

Open syllable.

in/ɪn/

Open syllable.

tel/ˈtɛl/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

li/ɪ/

Open syllable.

gent/dʒənt/

Closed syllable.

ly/li/

Open syllable, adverbial suffix.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

quasi-(prefix)
+
intel(root)
+
-ligently(suffix)

Prefix: quasi-

Latin origin, meaning 'as if', intensifier.

Root: intel

Latin origin, from 'intellegere' meaning 'to understand'.

Suffix: -ligently

Combination of -ligent (Latin, relating to understanding) and -ly (English, adverbial suffix).

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner resembling intelligence; appearing or seeming intelligent, but perhaps not genuinely so.

Examples:

"He acted quasi-intelligently, but his responses revealed a lack of real understanding."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

approximatelyap-prox-i-mate-ly

Shares a similar prefix and complex suffix structure, with stress on the third syllable.

automaticallyau-to-mat-i-cal-ly

Similar suffix structure (-ly) and multi-syllabic root, with stress on the third syllable.

scientificallysci-en-tif-i-cal-ly

Shares the -ically suffix and a Latinate root, with stress on the third syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Separation

Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.

Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are typically grouped with the following vowel.

Stress Assignment

English stress is complex, but generally falls on the root syllable or a nearby syllable in multi-syllabic words.

Special Considerations

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

The 'quasi-' prefix can sometimes be pronounced with a slight pause.

The -ly suffix can be reduced to a schwa /li/ in rapid speech.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'quasi-intelligently' is a seven-syllable adverb derived from Latin and English morphemes. Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('tel'). Syllabification follows standard vowel separation and consonant cluster rules, with potential for slight pronunciation variations in the prefix and suffix.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "quasi-intelligently"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "quasi-intelligently" is a complex adverb formed by combining several morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a blend of Latinate and Germanic influences. The 'quasi-' prefix is often pronounced with a slight pause, while the 'intelligently' portion follows typical English stress patterns.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: quasi- (Latin, meaning "as if," "seemingly") - functions as an intensifier or modifier.
  • Root: intel- (Latin, from intellegere "to understand") - the core meaning relating to intellect or understanding.
  • Suffix: -ligent- (Latin, relating to being able to understand) - forms the adjective stem.
  • Suffix: -ly (English, Germanic origin) - converts the adjective to an adverb.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: tel-li-gent-ly.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈkweɪzi ɪnˈtɛlədʒəntli/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of a prefix of Latin origin with a complex English suffix creates a potential for ambiguity in syllabification. However, the standard rules of vowel separation and consonant cluster analysis apply consistently.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word functions solely as an adverb. There are no significant shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to hypothetically function as another part of speech, as the -ly suffix firmly establishes its adverbial role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner resembling intelligence; appearing or seeming intelligent, but perhaps not genuinely so.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: seemingly, apparently, ostensibly, as if
  • Antonyms: genuinely, truly, actually, authentically
  • Examples: "He acted quasi-intelligently, but his responses revealed a lack of real understanding."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Similarly: approximately (ap-prox-i-mate-ly) - shares a prefix and a complex suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • Similarly: automatically (au-to-mat-i-cal-ly) - similar suffix structure (-ly) and multi-syllabic root. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • Similarly: scientifically (sci-en-tif-i-cal-ly) - shares the -ically suffix and a Latinate root. Stress falls on the third syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the third syllable in these words suggests a common rule for adverbs formed with the -ically or -ly suffix, particularly when combined with multi-syllabic roots.

10. Syllable Breakdown with Rules & Exceptions:

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
qua- /kwɑː/ Vowel Separation: A single vowel followed by a consonant(s) typically forms a syllable. None
si- /zi/ Vowel Separation: Similar to above. None
in- /ɪn/ Vowel Separation: Similar to above. None
tel- /ˈtɛl/ Vowel Separation & Stress: Vowel followed by consonant cluster, primary stress. None
li- /ɪ/ Vowel Separation: Vowel forms a syllable. None
gent- /dʒənt/ Consonant Cluster & Vowel Separation: Consonant cluster followed by a vowel. None
ly /li/ Vowel Separation: Vowel forms a syllable. The -ly suffix is often pronounced as a schwa /li/ in rapid speech.

11. Special Considerations:

The initial "quasi-" prefix can sometimes be pronounced with a slight pause, almost as if it were a separate word. However, in standard pronunciation, it's integrated into the overall syllable count.

12. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Separation: Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
  • Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are typically grouped with the following vowel.
  • Stress Assignment: English stress is complex, but generally falls on the root syllable or a nearby syllable in multi-syllabic words.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/6/2025

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.