HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofuncomprehensiveness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-com-pre-hen-sive-ness

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

/ʌnˌkɑmprɪˈhen.sɪv.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000010

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('sive'). The stress pattern is typical for words with multiple prefixes and suffixes.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

com/kɑm/

Open syllable, unstressed.

pre/prɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

hen/hen/

Open syllable, unstressed.

sive/sɪv/

Closed syllable, stressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
comprehend(root)
+
-ness(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: comprehend

Latin *comprehendere*, to grasp entirely

Suffix: -ness

Old English, forms a noun denoting a state or quality

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of not being able to understand something; lack of understanding.

Examples:

"His uncomprehensiveness of the issue led to a poor decision."

"The uncomprehensiveness of the instructions was frustrating."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Similar structure with multiple suffixes.

Understandablenessun-der-stand-a-ble-ness

Similar prefix and suffix structure.

Impossibilityim-pos-si-bil-i-ty

Similar suffix structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC) Pattern

Syllables are often formed around vowel sounds, with consonants preceding or following them.

Stress Assignment

Primary stress typically falls on a syllable containing a vowel, often influenced by morphological structure.

Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they create pronounceability issues.

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and complex morphology require careful consideration of vowel quality and stress placement.

The '-sive' ending could potentially be divided differently, but the pronunciation dictates the current division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'uncomprehensiveness' is divided into six syllables: un-com-pre-hen-sive-ness. It consists of the prefix 'un-', the root 'comprehend', and the suffix '-ness'. Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('sive'). Syllable division follows the vowel-consonant pattern and stress assignment rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "uncomprehensiveness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "uncomprehensiveness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a relatively standard vowel and consonant articulation, though the length and stress patterns are crucial for accurate syllabification.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: un-com-pre-hen-sive-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: comprehend (Latin comprehendere - to grasp entirely) - To understand.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.
  • Internal Component: hen- (from Greek hen meaning 'one', contributing to the 'whole grasp' idea in comprehend) - part of the root.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: un-com-pre-hen-sive-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˌkɑmprɪˈhen.sɪv.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-sive" can sometimes be a point of ambiguity, but in this case, it clearly forms a syllable due to the vowel sound. The presence of multiple consonant clusters doesn't create exceptional difficulty.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Uncomprehensiveness" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to function as another part of speech, as it is a derived noun.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of not being able to understand something; lack of understanding.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: incomprehension, unintelligibility, obtuseness
  • Antonyms: comprehension, understanding, insight
  • Examples: "His uncomprehensiveness of the issue led to a poor decision." "The uncomprehensiveness of the instructions was frustrating."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • Understandableness: un-der-stand-a-ble-ness - Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • Impossibility: im-pos-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.

The key difference is the length and complexity of the root. "Uncomprehensiveness" has a longer root ("comprehend") than the others, leading to more syllables. The stress pattern is also influenced by the root's length and vowel quality.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
un /ʌn/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-consonant pattern None
com /kɑm/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-consonant pattern None
pre /prɪ/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-consonant pattern None
hen /hen/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-consonant pattern None
sive /sɪv/ Closed syllable, stressed Vowel-consonant pattern, stress assignment Potential ambiguity, but vowel sound clearly defines syllable
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable, unstressed Vowel-consonant pattern None

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant (VC) Pattern: Syllables are often formed around vowel sounds, with consonants preceding or following them.
  2. Stress Assignment: Primary stress typically falls on a syllable containing a vowel, often influenced by morphological structure.
  3. Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they create pronounceability issues.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful consideration of vowel quality and stress placement. The "-sive" ending could potentially be divided differently, but the pronunciation dictates the current division.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might slightly alter vowel sounds (e.g., /ɑ/ vs. /ɔ/ in "comprehend"), but these variations wouldn't significantly affect the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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.