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Hyphenation ofreprehensibleness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

re-pre-hen-si-ble-ness

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

/ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsɪbl̩nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001000

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('hen'). The stress pattern is typical for words with the '-sibility' suffix.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

re/ri/

Open syllable, unstressed.

pre/prɛ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

hen/hɛn/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

si/sɪ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ble/bl̩/

Syllabic consonant, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

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

Prefix: re-

Latin origin, meaning 'again, back'. Prefixes modify the meaning of the root.

Root: prehend

Latin origin, meaning 'to seize, grasp'. The core meaning-bearing unit.

Suffix: -sible

Latin origin, meaning 'able to be'. Forms an adjective.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

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

Examples:

"His reprehensibleness was evident in his cruel actions."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Similar structure with multiple suffixes and stress pattern.

Comprehensibilitycom-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty

Similar root and suffix structure, stress pattern.

Accessibilityac-ces-si-bil-i-ty

Similar suffix structure, stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are often split, but attempts are made to keep affixes intact.

Syllabic Consonant Rule

A consonant can form a syllable nucleus if it is preceded by a consonant and followed by a vowel.

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and complex morphology make it prone to mis-syllabification.

The syllabic 'l' in 'ble' requires careful consideration.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'reprehensibleness' is divided into six syllables: re-pre-hen-si-ble-ness. It consists of the prefix 're-', the root 'prehend', and the suffixes '-sible' and '-ness'. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('hen'). The syllabic 'l' in 'ble' is a notable feature. The syllabification follows standard vowel and consonant cluster rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "reprehensibleness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "reprehensibleness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes and potential syllabic ambiguities. Its pronunciation in US English is approximately /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsɪbl̩nəs/. The schwa sound in the final syllable is common, and the 'l' can be syllabic.

2. Syllable Division:

re-pre-hen-si-ble-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: re- (Latin, meaning "again, back") - Prefixes modify the meaning of the root.
  • Root: prehend (Latin, meaning "to seize, grasp") - The core meaning-bearing unit.
  • Suffix: -sible (Latin, meaning "able to be") - Forms an adjective from the root.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English, meaning "state of being") - Forms a noun from the adjective.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsɪbl̩nəs/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsɪbl̩nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The syllabic 'l' in "ble" is a potential edge case. It can be analyzed as part of the preceding syllable or as a syllable nucleus itself. The analysis here treats it as a syllable nucleus.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Reprehensibleness" functions solely as a noun. There are no stress or syllabification shifts for other parts of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being reprehensible; deserving censure or condemnation.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: Censure, blame, disapproval, reprehension, condemnation.
  • Antonyms: Praise, commendation, approval.
  • Example Usage: "His reprehensibleness was evident in his cruel actions."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress on the third syllable.
  • Comprehensibility: com-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty (7 syllables) - Similar root and suffix structure. Stress on the third syllable.
  • Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Similar suffix structure. Stress on the third syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the third syllable in these words highlights the influence of the "-sibility" suffix in determining stress placement. The syllable division follows similar vowel-consonant patterns.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split, but attempts are made to keep affixes intact.
  • Syllabic Consonant Rule: A consonant can form a syllable nucleus if it is preceded by a consonant and followed by a vowel.

11. Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology make it prone to mis-syllabification. The syllabic 'l' requires careful consideration.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might pronounce the final syllable with a full vowel sound (/nəs/) instead of a schwa. This would not significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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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.