HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofuncompassionately

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-com-pas-sion-ate-ly

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

/ʌn.kəmˈpæʃ.ən.ət.li/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('sion'). The stress pattern is typical for words with this morphemic structure.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un-/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

com-/kəm/

Open syllable, unstressed.

pas-/pæʃ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

sion-/ʃən/

Open syllable, stressed.

ate-/ət/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ly-/li/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
compassion(root)
+
-ly(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: compassion

Latin *compassio* - 'suffering with', feeling or sympathy

Suffix: -ly

Old English *-lice*, adverb forming

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner lacking compassion; without feeling or showing sympathy or concern for others.

Examples:

"He treated the injured animal uncompassionately."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

immediatelyim-me-di-ate-ly

Similar syllable structure and suffixation.

unfortunatelyun-for-tu-nate-ly

Similar prefix and suffix structure.

consideratelycon-sid-er-ate-ly

Similar suffix structure and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant

Syllables often end in a vowel sound.

Consonant-Vowel-Consonant

Syllables can be formed around a vowel sound sandwiched between two consonants.

Stress Assignment

Primary stress typically falls on the root morpheme or a related suffix.

Special Considerations

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

The 'sion' cluster can sometimes be ambiguous, but the stress pattern clarifies it.

The length of the word and multiple suffixes contribute to its complexity.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'uncompassionately' is syllabified as un-com-pas-sion-ate-ly, with primary stress on the fourth syllable ('sion'). It's formed from the prefix 'un-', the root 'compassion', and the suffixes '-ate' and '-ly'. Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and stress assignment.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "uncompassionately"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "uncompassionately" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a relatively straightforward application of English phonological rules, though the length and number of syllables present challenges in segmentation.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): un-com-pas-sion-ate-ly

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: compassion (Latin compassio - 'suffering with') - Feeling or sympathy for the misfortunes of others.
  • Suffix: -ate (Latin -atus) - Adjective forming suffix.
  • Suffix: -ly (Old English -lice) - Adverb forming suffix.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: un-com-pas-sion-ate-ly.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌn.kəmˈpæʃ.ən.ət.li/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "sion" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, it's a clear syllable boundary due to the vowel sound and consonant cluster.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Uncompassionately" functions solely as an adverb. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function (as it only has one).

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner lacking compassion; without feeling or showing sympathy or concern for others.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: mercilessly, heartlessly, coldly, inhumanely
  • Antonyms: compassionately, kindly, sympathetically
  • Example Usage: "He treated the injured animal uncompassionately."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Immediately: im-me-di-ate-ly - Similar syllable structure, stress on the third syllable.
  • Unfortunately: un-for-tu-nate-ly - Similar prefix and suffix structure, stress on the third syllable.
  • Considerately: con-sid-er-ate-ly - Similar suffix structure, stress on the third syllable.

The differences in syllable division are primarily due to the varying consonant and vowel sequences within the root morpheme. "Compassionately" has a more complex consonant cluster ("-sion") than the others, influencing the syllable boundary.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
un- /ʌn/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-Consonant-Silent E rule (though 'un' doesn't have a silent 'e', it follows the pattern of a short vowel followed by a consonant) None
com- /kəm/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-Consonant rule None
pas- /pæʃ/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant-Vowel-Consonant rule None
sion- /ʃən/ Open syllable, stressed Vowel-Consonant rule, stress assignment based on root morpheme The 'sion' cluster can sometimes be ambiguous, but the stress pattern clarifies it.
ate- /ət/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-Consonant rule None
ly- /li/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-Consonant rule None

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes contribute to its complexity. However, the syllabification follows standard English rules without major exceptions.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables often end in a vowel sound.
  2. Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC): Syllables can be formed around a vowel sound sandwiched between two consonants.
  3. Stress Assignment: Primary stress typically falls on the root morpheme or a related suffix.
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 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.