HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofre-equilibration

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

re-e-qui-li-bra-tion

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

/ˌriːˌiːkwɪlɪˈbreɪʃən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

010011

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('bra'), with secondary stress on the first syllable ('re').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

re/riː/

Open syllable, lightly stressed.

e/iː/

Open syllable, lightly stressed.

qui/kwɪ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

li/lɪ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

bra/breɪ/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

re-(prefix)
+
equi-liber-(root)
+
-ation(suffix)

Prefix: re-

Latin origin, meaning 'again' or 'back', iterative function.

Root: equi-liber-

Latin origin, combining 'aequus' (equal) and 'liber' (free), relating to balance.

Suffix: -ation

Latin origin, nominalizing suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The process of restoring balance or equilibrium.

Examples:

"The company underwent a period of re-equilibration after the merger."

"The body's re-equilibration mechanisms kicked in to restore normal temperature."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

rehabilitationre-ha-bi-li-ta-tion

Shares the 're-' prefix and '-tion' suffix, similar morphological structure.

de-stabilizationde-sta-bi-li-za-tion

Shares the '-ization' suffix, similar vowel clusters and stress patterns.

communicationcom-mu-ni-ca-tion

Shares the '-tion' suffix, similar syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC)

Syllable division occurs after the first consonant in a VCC sequence (e.g., li-bra).

Maximize Onsets

Consonant clusters are maintained as onsets whenever possible (e.g., br-).

Prefix/Suffix Separation

Prefixes and suffixes are generally separated into distinct syllables.

Special Considerations

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

Vowel sequences (ee, ia) could potentially lead to alternative interpretations, but are resolved by established pronunciation and maximizing onsets.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /rɪ/ instead of /riː/) may exist but do not significantly alter syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 're-equilibration' is divided into six syllables: re-e-qui-li-bra-tion. It features a Latin-derived prefix and root, a nominalizing suffix, and primary stress on the penultimate syllable. Syllabification follows rules of maximizing onsets and separating morphemes.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "re-equilibration" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "re-equilibration" is pronounced /ˌriːˌiːkwɪlɪˈbreɪʃən/ in General American English. It features multiple syllables, stress shifts, and vowel reduction.

2. Syllable Division:

re-e-qui-li-bra-tion

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: re- (Latin) - meaning "again" or "back". Morphological function: iterative/reversal.
  • Root: equi- (Latin aequus) - meaning "equal". Morphological function: core meaning relating to balance.
  • Root: liber- (Latin liber) - meaning "free". Morphological function: core meaning relating to balance.
  • Suffix: -ation (Latin) - forming a noun from a verb. Morphological function: nominalization.
  • Suffix: -br- (Latin) - linking suffix. Morphological function: connects root elements.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌriːˌiːkwɪlɪˈbreɪʃən/. Secondary stress is on the first syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌriːˌiːkwɪlɪˈbreɪʃən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The presence of multiple vowels in sequence (e.g., ee, ia) can sometimes lead to ambiguity in syllabification. However, the principle of maximizing onsets generally applies here. The 'br' cluster is a common and stable onset.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Re-equilibration" primarily functions as a noun. While theoretically a verb could be formed ("to re-equilibrate"), the syllabification would remain largely the same, though the stress might shift to the final syllable in some pronunciations.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The process of restoring balance or equilibrium.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: restoration, stabilization, rebalancing, readjustment
  • Antonyms: disruption, imbalance, destabilization
  • Examples:
    • "The company underwent a period of re-equilibration after the merger."
    • "The body's re-equilibration mechanisms kicked in to restore normal temperature."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • rehabilitation: re-ha-bi-li-ta-tion. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the 'bi' syllable.
  • de-stabilization: de-sta-bi-li-za-tion. Similar suffix structure and vowel clusters. Stress falls on 'sta'.
  • communication: com-mu-ni-ca-tion. Similar suffix structure. Stress falls on 'mu'.

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying weight and sonority of the syllables. "Re-equilibration" has a longer and more complex root structure, leading to a later stress placement.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC): The syllable division between li and bra follows this rule, where a vowel is followed by two consonants, and the syllable break occurs after the first consonant.
  • Maximize Onsets: The 'br' cluster is maintained as an onset, influencing the division between qui and li.
  • Prefix Separation: Prefixes are generally separated by a hyphen.
  • Suffix Separation: Suffixes are generally separated by a hyphen.

11. Special Considerations:

The vowel sequences ee and ia could potentially lead to different interpretations, but the established pronunciation and the principle of maximizing onsets resolve these ambiguities.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in the first syllable to /rɪ/ instead of /riː/. This would not significantly alter the syllabification, but could affect the perceived stress.

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 process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.