HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofsupranationalism

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

su-pra-na-tion-al-ism

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

/ˌsuːprəˌnæʃənəˈlɪzəm/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001011

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('na'). 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-initial

pra/prə/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster

na/næ/

Open syllable

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster

al/əl/

Closed syllable

ism/ɪzəm/

Closed syllable

Morphemic Breakdown

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

supra-(prefix)
+
nation(root)
+
-ism(suffix)

Prefix: supra-

Latin origin, meaning 'above' or 'beyond', functions as a prefix indicating a higher level.

Root: nation

Latin origin (*natio*), meaning 'birth' or 'people', core meaning relating to a group sharing common culture.

Suffix: -ism

Greek origin (*ismos*), denoting a doctrine or ideology.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The belief or practice of transcending national boundaries, often in the context of political or economic cooperation.

Examples:

"The European Union is an example of supranationalism in action."

"Critics argue that supranationalism erodes national sovereignty."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

internationalismin-ter-na-tion-al-ism

Shares similar suffix structure and root relating to nations.

nationalismna-tion-al-ism

Shares the root 'nation' and the suffix '-ism'.

organizationor-ga-ni-za-tion

Contains a similar '-tion' ending and complex syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Initial Syllable

Syllables typically begin with a vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are unpronounceable.

Sonority Sequencing Principle

Syllables tend to follow a sonority hierarchy, with sounds becoming more sonorous towards the nucleus.

Special Considerations

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

The length of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes contribute to its complex syllable structure.

The /ʃn/ consonant cluster in 'tion' is a common feature of English and doesn't necessitate a syllable break.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'supranationalism' is divided into six syllables: su-pra-na-tion-al-ism. It's a noun with Latin and Greek roots, denoting a system transcending national boundaries. Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-initial syllables and consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "supranationalism"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "supranationalism" is pronounced /ˌsuːprəˌnæʃənəˈlɪzəm/ in US English. It exhibits a complex syllable structure due to its length and the presence of multiple vowels and consonant clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: su-pra-na-tion-al-ism

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: supra- (Latin, meaning "above," "beyond," or "over"). Morphological function: indicates a level or degree exceeding the normal.
  • Root: nation- (Latin natio, meaning "birth," "race," or "people"). Morphological function: core meaning relating to a large group of people sharing a common culture, ancestry, etc.
  • Suffix: -al- (Latin, adjectival suffix). Morphological function: forms an adjective.
  • Suffix: -ism- (Greek ismos, denoting a doctrine, principle, or ideology). Morphological function: forms a noun denoting a system of thought or behavior.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /suːprəˌnæʃənəˈlɪzəm/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsuːprəˌnæʃənəˈlɪzəm/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "tion" can sometimes be a point of syllabification debate, but in this case, it functions as a single unit within the syllable "na-tion". The consonant cluster /ʃn/ is permissible in English and doesn't necessitate a syllable break.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Supranationalism" primarily functions as a noun. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The belief or practice of transcending national boundaries, often in the context of political or economic cooperation.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: internationalism, cosmopolitanism, globalism
  • Antonyms: nationalism, isolationism
  • Examples: "The European Union is an example of supranationalism in action." "Critics argue that supranationalism erodes national sovereignty."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Internationalism: in-ter-na-tion-al-ism (6 syllables). Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • Nationalism: na-tion-al-ism (4 syllables). Shares the root "nation" and the suffix "-ism". Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • Organization: or-ga-ni-za-tion (5 syllables). Contains a similar "-tion" ending. Stress on the third syllable.

The differences in syllable count are primarily due to the length of the prefixes and initial consonant clusters. The shared suffixes and root contribute to consistent syllabification patterns.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
su /suː/ Open syllable, vowel-initial Vowel-initial syllable None
pra /prə/ Closed syllable, consonant cluster Consonant cluster followed by vowel None
na /næ/ Open syllable Vowel-initial syllable None
tion /ʃən/ Closed syllable, consonant cluster Consonant cluster followed by vowel The /ʃn/ cluster is common and doesn't require separation.
al /əl/ Closed syllable Consonant-vowel-consonant None
ism /ɪzəm/ Closed syllable Consonant-vowel-consonant None

Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Initial Syllable: Syllables typically begin with a vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are unpronounceable or violate phonotactic constraints.
  • Sonority Sequencing Principle: Syllables tend to follow a sonority hierarchy, with sounds becoming more sonorous (open) towards the nucleus (vowel) and less sonorous (closed) towards the margins (consonants).

Special Considerations:

The word's length and the presence of multiple morphemes contribute to its complex syllable structure. The stress pattern is crucial for correct pronunciation.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the most common US English pronunciation, slight variations may occur based on regional accents. These variations are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.

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 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.