Hyphenation ofslender-fingered
Syllable Division:
slen-der-fin-gered
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˈslɛndər ˈfɪŋɡərd/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
10 10
Primary stress falls on the first syllable of each component word ('slen' and 'fin').
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant(s).
Closed syllable, consonant followed by vowel and consonant.
Closed syllable, consonant followed by vowel and consonant.
Closed syllable, consonant followed by vowel and consonant.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix:
While 'un-' can be used with 'slender', it's not present in this word.
Root: slender
Old English *slindra*, meaning 'to slip, slide, be narrow'.
Suffix: -ed
Old English past tense/past participle marker.
Having long, thin fingers.
Examples:
"The pianist had slender-fingered hands that danced across the keys."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar syllable structure and stress pattern in a compound adjective.
Similar compound structure with stress on the first element.
Similar compound structure with stress on the first element.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Consonant
Syllables are often divided after a vowel, especially when followed by a consonant.
Consonant-Vowel-Consonant
Syllables are often divided before and after a vowel when it's surrounded by consonants.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The hyphenated nature of the word requires independent syllabification of each component.
Potential regional variations in vowel pronunciation do not affect syllable division.
Summary:
The word 'slender-fingered' is a compound adjective divided into four syllables: slen-der-fin-gered. Stress falls on the first syllable of each component. It's morphologically composed of the root 'slender' and the suffix '-ed', combined with 'finger'. Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "slender-fingered"
1. Pronunciation: The word "slender-fingered" is pronounced as /ˈslɛndər ˈfɪŋɡərd/.
2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is slen-der-fin-gered.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: un- (though not present in this word, the root 'slender' is often contrasted with 'unslender') - Old English, intensifying/negating.
- Root: slender - Old English slindra, meaning "to slip, slide, be narrow".
- Suffix: -ed - Old English, past tense/past participle marker.
- Compound Modifier: finger - Old English finger, denoting the digit.
4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the first syllable of each component word: /ˈslɛn.dər ˈfɪŋ.ɡərd/.
5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˈslɛndər ˈfɪŋɡərd/
6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:
- slen-: /slɛn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Potential exception: The 'sl' cluster is a common initial consonant cluster in English, not causing division.
- -der: /dər/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel and consonant.
- fin-: /fɪn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel and consonant.
- -gered: /ɡərd/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel and consonant.
7. Edge Case Review: The hyphenated nature of the word presents a slight edge case. Each component ("slender" and "fingered") is syllabified independently before being combined.
8. Grammatical Role: "Slender-fingered" functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.
9. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Having long, thin fingers.
- Grammatical Category: Adjective
- Synonyms: long-fingered, delicate-fingered
- Antonyms: stubby-fingered, thick-fingered
- Examples: "The pianist had slender-fingered hands that danced across the keys."
10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: Some regional variations might slightly alter vowel sounds (e.g., /slɛndɚ/ instead of /slɛndər/), but this doesn't affect the syllable division.
11. Phonological Comparison:
- tender-hearted: ten-der-heart-ed. Similar syllable structure, stress pattern.
- winter-green: win-ter-green. Similar compound structure, stress on the first element.
- silver-plated: sil-ver-plat-ed. Similar compound structure, stress on the first element.
The consistency in stress placement on the first syllable of each component in these words demonstrates a common pattern in English compound adjectives.
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.