HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofself-sacrificingness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-sac-ri-fic-ing-ness

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

/ˌselfˈsæk.rɪ.faɪ.sɪŋ.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

010110

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('fic'). 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/self/

Open syllable, lightly stressed.

sac/sæk/

Closed syllable, stressed.

ri/rɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

fic/faɪs/

Closed syllable, primary stressed.

ing/sɪŋ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
sacrifice(root)
+
-ing(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: sacrifice

Latin *sacrificium* via Old French, to give up something valued.

Suffix: -ing

Old English, progressive/gerundive marker, also used to form adjectives.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of being willing to give up one's own interests or comfort for the sake of others.

Examples:

"Her self-sacrificingness was admirable."

"The mother demonstrated remarkable self-sacrificingness for her children."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and similar vowel structure.

selfishnessself-ish-ness

Shares the 'self-' prefix and '-ness' suffix.

interestingnessin-ter-est-ing-ness

Shares the '-ing' and '-ness' suffixes, demonstrating similar morphological patterns.

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 not necessarily between vowels.

Prefix/Suffix Rule

Prefixes and suffixes often form separate syllables.

Stress Rule

Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect vowel reduction.

Special Considerations

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

Slight variations in pronunciation may occur depending on regional accents.

The '-ing' suffix is tightly bound to 'fic', forming a single syllable in this case.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-sacrificingness' is a noun composed of the prefix 'self-', root 'sacrifice', and suffixes '-ing' and '-ness'. It's divided into five syllables: self-sac-ri-fic-ing-ness, with primary stress on 'fic' and secondary stress on 'self'. The IPA transcription is /ˌselfˈsæk.rɪ.faɪ.sɪŋ.nəs/.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "self-sacrificingness" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-sacrificingness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation involves several consonant clusters and vowel reductions, typical of English.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-sac-ri-fic-ing-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the action is performed by the subject.
  • Root: sacrifice (Latin sacrificium via Old French) - to give up something valued for a higher purpose.
  • Suffix: -ing (Old English) - progressive/gerundive marker, also used to form adjectives.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - noun-forming suffix denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: sac-ri-fic-ing-ness. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: self-sac-ri-fic-ing-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfˈsæk.rɪ.faɪ.sɪŋ.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "-ing" suffix can sometimes be considered a separate syllable, but in this case, it's tightly bound to "fic," creating a single syllable. The "self-" prefix is often pronounced with reduced vowel quality.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word functions primarily as a noun. While "sacrificing" can be a gerund, the addition of "-ness" firmly establishes the word as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of the grammatical function of the root "sacrifice".

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of being willing to give up one's own interests or comfort for the sake of others.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: altruism, selflessness, devotion, abnegation
  • Antonyms: selfishness, egoism, self-centeredness
  • Examples: "Her self-sacrificingness was admirable." "The mother demonstrated remarkable self-sacrificingness for her children."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar suffix "-ness," stress on the second syllable.
  • selfishness: self-ish-ness - Shares the "self-" prefix and "-ness" suffix, stress on the first syllable.
  • interestingness: in-ter-est-ing-ness - Similar suffix "-ness" and "-ing" suffix, stress on the third syllable.

The syllable division in "self-sacrificingness" differs due to the longer root word "sacrifice" and the presence of the "ri" vowel sequence, which necessitates a separate syllable.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split, but not necessarily between vowels.
  • Prefix/Suffix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes often form separate syllables.
  • Stress Rule: Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect vowel reduction.

11. Special Considerations:

The word is relatively complex and could be subject to slight variations in pronunciation depending on regional accents. However, the syllabification presented here is consistent with standard US English pronunciation.

12. Short Analysis:

"self-sacrificingness" is a noun formed from the prefix "self-", the root "sacrifice", and the suffixes "-ing" and "-ness". It is divided into five syllables: self-sac-ri-fic-ing-ness, with primary stress on "fic" and secondary stress on "self". The phonetic transcription is /ˌselfˈsæk.rɪ.faɪ.sɪŋ.nəs/.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/5/2025

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.