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Hyphenation oftriskaidekaphobe

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

tri-ska-i-de-ka-pho-be

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

/ˌtrɪskəˌdeɪdəˈfoʊb/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000010

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('pho'), as determined by polysyllabic word stress rules.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

tri/traɪ/

Open, unstressed syllable.

ska/skə/

Closed, unstressed syllable.

i/i/

Open, unstressed syllable.

de/deɪ/

Open, unstressed syllable.

ka/kə/

Open, unstressed syllable.

pho/foʊ/

Open, stressed syllable.

be/boʊb/

Closed, unstressed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

tris-(prefix)
+
kai-deka(root)
+
-phobe(suffix)

Prefix: tris-

Latin/Greek origin, meaning 'three'; numerical prefix.

Root: kai-deka

Greek origin, forming the number thirteen.

Suffix: -phobe

Greek origin, denoting fear of something.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A person who has a fear of the number thirteen.

Examples:

"My aunt is a confirmed triskaidekaphobe and refuses to stay in a hotel room numbered thirteen."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Photographpho-to-graph

Similar syllable structure and stressed penultimate syllable.

Hippopotamuship-po-po-ta-mus

Polysyllabic with complex structure, but stress pattern differs.

Metamorphosisme-ta-mor-pho-sis

Similar Greek-derived elements and polysyllabic structure, but stress pattern differs.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant(s)) and rime (vowel and any following consonants).

Vowel-Centric

Each syllable typically contains one vowel sound.

Sonority Sequencing Principle

Syllables are structured according to the sonority hierarchy (vowels are more sonorous than consonants).

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and complex morphology make it challenging to syllabify.

The 'ska' syllable is a relatively uncommon sequence, but doesn't violate syllable structure rules.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'triskaidekaphobe' is a seven-syllable noun with primary stress on the penultimate syllable. It's formed from Greek and Latin morphemes denoting 'three,' 'thirteen,' and 'fear.' Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-centricity and sonority sequencing.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "triskaidekaphobe"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "triskaidekaphobe" is pronounced /ˌtrɪskəˌdeɪdəˈfoʊb/ in US English. It's a relatively long word with multiple syllables, and its pronunciation relies on knowledge of Greek-derived prefixes and suffixes.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: tri-ska-i-de-ka-pho-be

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: tris- (Latin/Greek origin, meaning "three"). Morphological function: numerical prefix.
  • Root: kai-deka (Greek origin, kai meaning "and", deka meaning "ten"). Morphological function: forms the number thirteen.
  • Suffix: -phobe (Greek origin, phobos meaning "fear"). Morphological function: denotes a person with an irrational fear of something.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌtrɪskəˌdeɪdəˈfoʊb/. The stress pattern is determined by the polysyllabic word stress rule, which generally places stress on the second-to-last syllable if it contains a vowel and is not blocked by a stronger stress elsewhere.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌtrɪskəˌdeɪdəˈfoʊb/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "ska" is common in English and doesn't present a significant edge case. The "dei" sequence is also relatively common. The final "be" is a weak syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Triskaidekaphobe" functions solely as a noun, denoting a person who suffers from triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number thirteen). Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role (as it only has one).

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A person who has a fear of the number thirteen.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: None readily available; the concept is quite specific.
  • Antonyms: None readily available.
  • Examples: "My aunt is a confirmed triskaidekaphobe and refuses to stay in a hotel room numbered thirteen."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Photograph: pho-to-graph. Similar syllable structure with a stressed penultimate syllable.
  • Hippopotamus: hip-po-po-ta-mus. Polysyllabic, with a complex structure, but stress falls earlier.
  • Metamorphosis: me-ta-mor-pho-sis. Similar Greek-derived elements and polysyllabic structure, but stress pattern differs.

The differences in stress patterns are due to the varying number of syllables and the presence of different vowel qualities and consonant clusters. "Triskaidekaphobe" has a more complex structure with a longer sequence of vowels and consonants, leading to the penultimate stress.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

  • tri: /traɪ/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
  • ska: /skə/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel.
  • i: /i/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Single vowel.
  • de: /deɪ/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel digraph followed by consonant.
  • ka: /kə/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel.
  • pho: /foʊ/ - Open syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel digraph followed by consonant.
  • be: /boʊb/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.

Exceptions/Special Cases:

The "ska" syllable is a relatively uncommon sequence, but it doesn't violate any syllable structure rules. The word as a whole is an example of a complex word formed through the agglutination of morphemes, which can sometimes lead to unusual syllable patterns.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Onset-Rime: Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant(s)) and rime (vowel and any following consonants).
  2. Vowel-Centric: Each syllable typically contains one vowel sound.
  3. Sonority Sequencing Principle: Syllables are structured according to the sonority hierarchy (vowels are more sonorous than consonants).

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology make it challenging to syllabify. However, the rules applied are consistent with standard English phonological principles.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Minor variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ə/ vs. /eɪ/ in "dei") might occur depending on regional accents, but these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

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

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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.