HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofsuperprecariously

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

su-per-pre-car-i-ous-ly

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

/ˌsuːpərprɪˈkeɪriəsli/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0101110

Primary stress on the fourth syllable (/ˈkeɪri/), secondary stress on the first syllable (/suː/).

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

su/suː/

Open syllable, vowel sound

per/pər/

Closed syllable, vowel sound

pre/priː/

Open syllable, vowel sound

car/keɪr/

Closed syllable, diphthong

i/i/

Open syllable, vowel sound

ous/əs/

Closed syllable, vowel sound

ly/li/

Closed syllable, vowel sound

Morphemic Breakdown

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

super-(prefix)
+
precarious(root)
+
-ly(suffix)

Prefix: super-

Latin origin, intensifier

Root: precarious

Latin origin, core meaning

Suffix: -ly

English origin, adverbial suffix

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner that is extremely uncertain, unstable, or dangerous.

Examples:

"The ladder was positioned superprecariously on the steep slope."

"He balanced superprecariously on the edge of the roof."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

comparativelycom-par-a-tive-ly

Similar structure with prefix, root, and suffix.

incrediblyin-cred-i-bly

Similar structure with prefix, root, and suffix.

specificallyspe-cif-i-cal-ly

Similar structure with prefix, root, and suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC)

Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound.

Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC)

Syllables are often divided before and after consonants between vowels.

Single Vowel

A single vowel typically forms its own syllable.

Special Considerations

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

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

The presence of multiple suffixes and the intensifier prefix contribute to its structure.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'superprecariously' is a seven-syllable adverb formed from the prefix 'super-', the root 'precarious', and the suffix '-ly'. Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel and consonant sequences.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "superprecariously"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "superprecariously" is a seven-syllable word pronounced /ˌsuːpərprɪˈkeɪriəsli/ in US English. It features a complex structure with multiple morphemes and a relatively consistent stress pattern.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: su-per-pre-car-i-ous-ly

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over," or "beyond"). Function: Intensifier.
  • Root: precarious (Latin precarius, meaning "dependent on chance; uncertain"). Function: Core meaning of the word.
  • Suffix: -ly (English, derived from Old English *-lice). Function: Adverbial suffix, converting the adjective "precarious" into the adverb "precariously".

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: pre-car-i-ous-ly. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: su-per-pre-car-i-ous-ly.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsuːpərprɪˈkeɪriəsli/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "ious" can sometimes be a point of syllabification debate, but in this case, it clearly forms a syllable due to the vowel sound. The "per" sequence is also a common syllable, and the rules of English syllabification support its separation.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Superprecariously" functions solely as an adverb. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner that is extremely uncertain, unstable, or dangerous.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: perilously, hazardously, riskily, dangerously
  • Antonyms: safely, securely, reliably
  • Examples: "The ladder was positioned superprecariously on the steep slope." "He balanced superprecariously on the edge of the roof."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Comparatively: com-par-a-tive-ly (4 syllables). Similar structure with a prefix, root, and suffix. Stress falls on the third syllable. The difference lies in the length of the root and the initial consonant cluster.
  • Incredibly: in-cred-i-bly (4 syllables). Similar structure with a prefix, root, and suffix. Stress falls on the third syllable. The difference is the vowel quality and the number of syllables.
  • Specifically: spe-cif-i-cal-ly (5 syllables). Similar structure with a prefix, root, and suffix. Stress falls on the third syllable. The difference is the length of the root and the number of syllables.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
su /suː/ Open syllable, vowel sound Vowel followed by consonant None
per /pər/ Closed syllable, vowel sound Consonant-Vowel-Consonant None
pre /priː/ Open syllable, vowel sound Vowel followed by consonant None
car /keɪr/ Closed syllable, diphthong Consonant-Vowel-Consonant None
i /i/ Open syllable, vowel sound Single vowel None
ous /əs/ Closed syllable, vowel sound Consonant-Vowel-Consonant None
ly /li/ Closed syllable, vowel sound Consonant-Vowel None

Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Consonant (VC) Rule: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound.
  • Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) Rule: Syllables are often divided before and after consonants between vowels.
  • Single Vowel Rule: A single vowel typically forms its own syllable.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful application of syllabification rules. The presence of multiple suffixes and the intensifier prefix contribute to its structure.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the most common US English pronunciation, slight variations in vowel quality or stress intensity may occur depending on regional accents. These variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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 splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.