HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofsuperdelicateness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

su-per-de-li-ca-teness

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

/ˌsuːpərˌdɛlɪkətˈnɛs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

010011

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('-ca-'). The first and third syllables have secondary stress.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

su/suː/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

per/pər/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster followed by a vowel.

de/dɛ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

li/lɪ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

ca/kə/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

teness/tɛnəs/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant cluster.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

super-(prefix)
+
delicate(root)
+
-ness(suffix)

Prefix: super-

Latin origin, intensifier.

Root: delicate

French/Latin origin, core meaning of fineness.

Suffix: -ness

Old English origin, forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of being extremely delicate; excessive sensitivity or refinement.

Examples:

"Her superdelicateness made her easily offended."

"The artist's superdelicateness was evident in every brushstroke."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Similar structure with a suffix, demonstrating consistent suffix application.

kindnesskind-ness

Shares the *-ness* suffix, illustrating consistent suffix syllabification.

beautifulnessbeau-ti-ful-ness

Longer word with multiple syllables, demonstrating consistent vowel-consonant syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC)

Syllables are typically divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant.

Consonant Cluster-Vowel (CV)

Syllables are divided before a vowel when preceded by a consonant cluster.

Special Considerations

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

The presence of multiple suffixes could potentially lead to ambiguity, but the consistent application of VC and CV rules resolves this.

Regional variations in vowel reduction may occur, but do not affect the core syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'superdelicateness' is divided into six syllables: su-per-de-li-ca-teness. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable. The word is morphologically complex, consisting of a prefix, root, and two suffixes. Syllabification follows standard English vowel-consonant and consonant cluster-vowel rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "superdelicateness"

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced /ˌsuːpərˌdɛlɪkətˈnɛs/.

2. Syllable Division: su-per-de-li-ca-teness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over," or "beyond") - Intensifier.
  • Root: delicate (French, ultimately from Latin delicatus, past participle of delicare "to entice, charm, delight") - Core meaning of fineness, sensitivity.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, from Proto-Germanic *-nass) - Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.
  • Suffix: -ness is attached to delicateness to form superdelicateness.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌsuːpərˌdɛlɪkətˈnɛs/.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌsuːpərˌdɛlɪkətˈnɛs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • su-: /suː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. No exceptions.
  • per-: /pər/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a vowel. No exceptions.
  • de-: /dɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. No exceptions.
  • li-: /lɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. No exceptions.
  • ca-: /kə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. No exceptions.
  • teness: /tɛnəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review: The word contains multiple suffixes, which can sometimes lead to ambiguity in syllabification. However, the consistent application of vowel-consonant patterns resolves this.

8. Grammatical Role: The word functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of being extremely delicate; excessive sensitivity or refinement.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: exquisiteness, sensitivity, refinement, fragility.
  • Antonyms: coarseness, insensitivity, robustness.
  • Examples: "Her superdelicateness made her easily offended." "The artist's superdelicateness was evident in every brushstroke."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the primary pronunciation is /ˌsuːpərˌdɛlɪkətˈnɛs/, some speakers might reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables (e.g., /ˌsʊpərˌdɛlɪkətˈnɛs/). This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar structure with a suffix. Stress falls on the first syllable.
  • kindness: kind-ness - Simpler structure, but shares the -ness suffix. Stress falls on the first syllable.
  • beautifulness: beau-ti-ful-ness - Longer word with multiple syllables, but demonstrates the consistent application of vowel-consonant syllabification. Stress falls on the second syllable.

The differences in stress patterns are due to the varying number of syllables and the presence of prefixes in "superdelicateness." The consistent application of vowel-consonant rules ensures a similar syllabic structure across these words.

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.