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Hyphenation ofreprehensibility

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

re-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty

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

/ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəbɪlɪti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000010

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('bil'). The stress pattern is weak-weak-weak-weak-weak-strong-weak.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

re/ri/

Open syllable, weak stress.

pre/prɛ/

Open syllable, weak stress.

hen/hɛn/

Closed syllable, weak stress.

si/sɪ/

Open syllable, weak stress.

bil/bɪl/

Closed syllable, weak stress.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, weak stress.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable, weak stress.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

re-(prefix)
+
prehend(root)
+
-en-(suffix)

Prefix: re-

Latin origin, meaning 'again, back', intensifier/reversal.

Root: prehend

Latin origin (*prehendere* - to grasp, seize), core meaning.

Suffix: -en-

Latin origin, forming adjectives or verbs.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality of being reprehensible; deserving of censure or condemnation.

Examples:

"The reprehensibility of his actions shocked the community."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the 're-' prefix and '-ibility' suffix, similar syllable structure.

comprehensibilitycom-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-hensibility' core, similar syllable structure.

accessibilityac-ces-si-bil-i-ty

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

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant-Vowel (VCV)

Syllables are divided between vowels in a VCV sequence.

Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC)

Syllables are divided before and after the consonant in a CVC pattern.

Vowel Pattern

Single vowels often form their own syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and complex morphology require careful application of syllable division rules.

The consistent application of VCV and CVC patterns ensures accurate segmentation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'reprehensibility' is divided into seven syllables: re-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty. It consists of the prefix 're-', the root 'prehend', and the suffixes '-en-' and '-ibility'. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable. Syllable division follows standard VCV and CVC patterns.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "reprehensibility"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "reprehensibility" is pronounced /ˌrɛprɪˌhɛnsəˈbɪlɪti/ in US English. It's a relatively complex word with multiple syllables and a mix of stressed and unstressed elements.

2. Syllable Division:

re-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: re- (Latin) - meaning "again, back". Morphological function: intensifier/reversal.
  • Root: prehend (Latin prehendere - to grasp, seize) - meaning "to seize, grasp, understand". Morphological function: core meaning.
  • Suffix: -en- (Latin) - forming adjectives or verbs. Morphological function: verb forming.
  • Suffix: -sibility (Latin -bilis + -itas) - denoting capability or quality of being. Morphological function: nominalization.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌrɛprɪˌhɛnsəˈbɪlɪti/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-si-" before a vowel can sometimes lead to ambiguity, but in this case, the established pronunciation dictates the division.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Reprehensibility" functions solely as a noun. There are no syllable or stress shifts based on part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality of being reprehensible; deserving of censure or condemnation.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: Censure, blame, condemnation, reprehension, disapproval.
  • Antonyms: Praise, commendation, approval.
  • Example Usage: "The reprehensibility of his actions shocked the community."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable. The initial 're-' and '-ibility' suffixes are identical.
  • Comprehensibility: com-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable. Shares the '-hensibility' core.
  • Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty. Similar '-ibility' suffix, but different root and stress pattern (penultimate syllable).

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
re- /ri/ Open syllable, weak stress Vowel-consonant-vowel pattern None
pre- /prɛ/ Open syllable, weak stress Vowel-consonant-vowel pattern None
hen- /hɛn/ Closed syllable, weak stress Consonant-vowel-consonant pattern None
si- /sɪ/ Open syllable, weak stress Vowel-consonant-vowel pattern None
bil- /bɪl/ Closed syllable, weak stress Consonant-vowel-consonant pattern None
i- /ɪ/ Open syllable, weak stress Vowel pattern None
ty /ti/ Closed syllable, weak stress Consonant-vowel pattern None

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant-Vowel (VCV): When a word contains a sequence of VCV, syllables are typically divided between the vowels (e.g., re-pre-hen).
  2. Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC): Syllables are divided before and after the consonant in a CVC pattern (e.g., hen-si-bil).
  3. Vowel Pattern: Single vowels often form their own syllable (e.g., i-).

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful application of syllable division rules. The consistent application of VCV and CVC patterns ensures accurate segmentation.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Minor variations in vowel quality might exist across different US dialects, but these do not significantly alter the syllable division.

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

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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.