HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofself-luminescence

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-lu-mi-nes-cence

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

/ˌselfluːmɪˈnɛsəns/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01011

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('nes'). Secondary stress is present on the first syllable ('self').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/sɛlf/

Closed syllable, initial syllable.

lu/luː/

Open syllable.

mi/mɪ/

Closed syllable.

nes/nɛs/

Closed syllable.

cence/səns/

Closed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
lum(root)
+
escence(suffix)

Prefix: self

Germanic origin, Old English 'self', reflexive pronoun acting as a prefix.

Root: lum

Latin 'lumen' meaning 'light', carries the core meaning of light emission.

Suffix: escence

Latin '-escentia', indicates a process or state of becoming.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The emission of light by a substance without heat, as a result of chemical or electrical energy.

Examples:

"The self-luminescence of the crystals illuminated the cave."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

intelligencein-tel-li-gence

Similar syllable structure with multiple unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one.

fluorescenceflu-o-res-cence

Shares the '-escence' suffix and similar stress patterns.

resiliencere-sil-ience

Similar ending '-ience' and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule (V)

Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.

VCC Rule

Consonant clusters are often broken after the first consonant if a vowel follows.

Onset-Rime

Syllables are structured around an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and following consonants).

Special Considerations

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

The 'sc' cluster is a common exception, but the vowel sound dictates the syllable break.

The word's length and complexity require careful application of syllabification rules.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-luminescence' is a five-syllable noun with primary stress on the third syllable ('nes'). It's composed of the prefix 'self-', the root 'lum-', and the suffixes '-escence' and '-ence'. Syllabification follows standard US English rules, prioritizing vowel sounds and consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "self-luminescence"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-luminescence" is pronounced as /ˌselfluːmɪˈnɛsəns/ in US English. It's a relatively complex word with multiple syllables and a blend of morphemes.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): self-lu-mi-nes-cence

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Germanic origin, Old English self). Morphological function: reflexive pronoun acting as a prefix.
  • Root: lum- (Latin lumen meaning "light"). Morphological function: carries the core meaning of light emission.
  • Suffix: -escence (Latin -escentia). Morphological function: indicates a process or state of becoming.
  • Suffix: -ence (Latin -entia). Morphological function: nominalizing suffix, forming a noun from a verb or adjective.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: lu-mi-nes-cence. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: self-lu-mi-nes-cence.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfluːmɪˈnɛsəns/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of "scence" can sometimes be tricky, but the vowel sound before it dictates the syllable break. The 'nes' forms a syllable due to the vowel sound.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-luminescence" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context, as it's not inflected.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The emission of light by a substance without heat, as a result of chemical or electrical energy.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: phosphorescence, fluorescence, glow
  • Antonyms: darkness, opacity
  • Examples: "The self-luminescence of the crystals illuminated the cave."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Intelligence: in-tel-li-gence. Similar syllable structure with multiple unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one. The 'gence' ending is comparable to 'scence'.
  • Fluorescence: flu-o-res-cence. Shares the '-escence' suffix and similar stress patterns.
  • Resilience: re-sil-ience. Similar ending '-ience' and stress pattern. The initial syllable structure differs due to the 're' prefix.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
self /sɛlf/ Closed syllable, initial syllable VCC rule (consonant cluster followed by vowel) None
lu /luː/ Open syllable V rule (vowel sound) None
mi /mɪ/ Closed syllable VCC rule None
nes /nɛs/ Closed syllable VCC rule The 'sc' cluster is common, but the vowel sound dictates the syllable break.
cence /səns/ Closed syllable VCC rule The 'sc' cluster is common, but the vowel sound dictates the syllable break.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel Rule (V): Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
  2. VCC Rule: Consonant clusters are often broken after the first consonant if a vowel follows.
  3. Onset-Rime: Syllables are structured around an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and following consonants).

Special Considerations:

  • The 'sc' cluster is a common exception, but the vowel sound dictates the syllable break.
  • The word's length and complexity require careful application of syllabification rules.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Minor variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ɛ/ vs. /æ/ in "self") might occur regionally, but these do not significantly alter the syllable division.

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 use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.