HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofspatulate-leaved

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

spa-tu-late-leaved

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

/ˈspætʃuˌleɪt ˈliːvd/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

1011

Primary stress on the third syllable ('late'), secondary stress on the fourth syllable ('leaved').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

spa/spɑː/

Open syllable, onset /sp/.

tu/tuː/

Open syllable, simple vowel-consonant structure.

late/leɪt/

Closed syllable, VCV pattern, primary stress.

leaved/liːvd/

Closed syllable, VCC pattern, secondary stress.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
spatula(root)
+
-ate(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: spatula

Latin origin, meaning 'a flat, broad blade'

Suffix: -ate

Latin adjectival suffix

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Having leaves shaped like a spatula; broad and flat.

Examples:

"The spatulate-leaved plant thrived in the humid environment."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

calculatecal-cu-late

Similar VCV pattern in the final syllables.

fortunatefor-tu-nate

Similar stress pattern and VCV patterns.

separatesep-a-rate

Demonstrates VCV division, similar to 'spatulate' and 'leaved'.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-consonant rime.

VCV Division

When a vowel is surrounded by consonants, each vowel typically forms its own syllable.

VCC Division

When a vowel is followed by a consonant cluster, the vowel usually forms a syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The hyphenated structure of the compound adjective influences the overall perception of the word's structure.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'spatulate-leaved' is a compound adjective divided into four syllables: spa-tu-late-leaved. Primary stress falls on 'late'. It's derived from Latin roots and follows standard English syllabification rules, with considerations for the VCV and VCC patterns.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "spatulate-leaved"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "spatulate-leaved" is a compound adjective. Its pronunciation reflects its constituent parts. The first part, "spatulate," is pronounced with initial /sp/ consonant cluster, followed by a vowel and a liquid consonant. The second part, "leaved," is pronounced with a vowel followed by a voiced alveolar fricative and a vowel.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: spa-tu-late-leaved.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: None
  • Root: spatula (Latin, meaning "a flat, broad blade") - refers to the shape.
  • Suffix: -ate (Latin, adjectival suffix, forming adjectives from nouns or verbs) - transforms 'spatula' into an adjective.
  • Root: leave (Old English, meaning "to depart" or "a leaf") - refers to the presence of leaves.
  • Suffix: -ed (Old English, past tense/past participle marker, but here functions to create an adjectival form meaning "having leaves") - modifies 'leave' to describe a characteristic.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: spa-tu-late-leaved. Secondary stress falls on the 'leaved' syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈspætʃuˌleɪt ˈliːvd/

6. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word presents a slight edge case. While each component follows standard syllabification, the hyphenated structure requires careful consideration. The rule of VCV (vowel-consonant-vowel) applies to 'late' and 'leaved', creating separate syllables.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Spatulate-leaved" functions exclusively as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Having leaves shaped like a spatula; broad and flat.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: Broad-leaved, spatulous
  • Antonyms: Narrow-leaved, needle-leaved
  • Examples: "The spatulate-leaved plant thrived in the humid environment." "She admired the spatulate-leaved flowers in the garden."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "calculate" /ˈkæl.kjʊ.leɪt/ - Syllables: cal-cu-late. Similar VCV pattern in the final two syllables. Stress on the first syllable.
  • "fortunate" /ˈfɔːr.tʃu.nət/ - Syllables: for-tu-nate. Similar stress pattern (first syllable stress) and VCV patterns.
  • "separate" /ˈsep.ə.reɪt/ - Syllables: sep-a-rate. Demonstrates VCV division, similar to "spatulate" and "leaved".

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

  • spa: /spɑː/ - Open syllable, initial consonant cluster /sp/. Rule: Onset-Rime division.
  • tu: /tuː/ - Open syllable, simple vowel-consonant structure. Rule: Onset-Rime division.
  • late: /leɪt/ - Closed syllable, VCV pattern. Rule: VCV division, where the vowel between two consonants forms a syllable. Potential exception: could be argued as 'la-te' but 'late' is more common.
  • leaved: /liːvd/ - Closed syllable, VCC pattern. Rule: VCC division, where the vowel precedes the consonant cluster. Potential exception: could be argued as 'lee-ved' but 'leaved' is more common.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset-Rime: Dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-consonant rime.
  • VCV Division: When a vowel is surrounded by consonants, each vowel typically forms its own syllable.
  • VCC Division: When a vowel is followed by a consonant cluster, the vowel usually forms a syllable.

Special Considerations:

The hyphenated structure of the compound adjective is a key consideration. While each part is syllabified independently, the hyphen influences the overall perception of the word's structure.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /æ/ vs. /ɑː/ in "spatulate") might exist, but these do not significantly alter the syllabification.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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.