HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofunneighbourliness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-neigh-bour-li-ness

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

/ʌnˈneɪbərˌlɪnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01000

Primary stress falls on the second syllable ('neigh'). The other syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un-/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

neigh-/neɪ/

Open syllable, stressed, contains a diphthong.

bour-/bər/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

li-/lɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, unstressed, suffix.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
neighbour(root)
+
-liness(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English origin, negation.

Root: neighbour

Middle English from Old French, denoting proximity.

Suffix: -liness

Old English origin, forms abstract nouns.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being unfriendly or lacking in neighborly kindness.

Examples:

"Her unneighbourliness was evident in her refusal to help with the community garden."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

friendlinessfriend-li-ness

Shares the '-liness' suffix and similar stress pattern.

kindlinesskind-li-ness

Shares the '-liness' suffix and similar stress pattern.

businessbus-i-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, demonstrating a common pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC)

Syllables often divide after a vowel followed by a consonant.

Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC)

Syllables often divide before and after a consonant between two vowels.

Diphthong Rule

Diphthongs generally stay within the same syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The silent 'gh' in 'neighbour' is a historical spelling convention.

The 'bour' sequence is a relatively uncommon vowel combination.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'unneighbourliness' is divided into five syllables: un-neigh-bour-li-ness. The primary stress falls on the second syllable ('neigh'). It's a noun formed from the prefix 'un-', the root 'neighbour', and the suffix '-liness'. The silent 'gh' and the 'bour' sequence are notable features.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "unneighbourliness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "unneighbourliness" is pronounced /ʌnˈneɪbərˌlɪnəs/. It presents challenges due to the presence of multiple vowels, diphthongs, and consonant clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: un-neigh-bour-li-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: neighbour (Middle English from Old French nei(ve)re 'near' + bour 'dwelling') - denoting proximity or relationship.
  • Suffix: -liness (Old English -nes) - Forms abstract nouns denoting a state, quality, or condition.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable: un-neigh-bour-li-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˈneɪbərˌlɪnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "gh" is silent, impacting the syllable count and pronunciation. The "bour" sequence is a potential point of variation, but generally follows the established pronunciation.

7. Grammatical Role:

"unneighbourliness" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress based on grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being unfriendly or lacking in neighborly kindness.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: unfriendliness, coldness, aloofness, discourtesy
  • Antonyms: friendliness, neighborliness, sociability, warmth
  • Example Usage: "Her unneighbourliness was evident in her refusal to help with the community garden."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Friendliness: friend-li-ness (3 syllables) - Similar suffix -liness, stress on the second syllable.
  • Kindliness: kind-li-ness (3 syllables) - Similar suffix -liness, stress on the second syllable.
  • Business: bus-i-ness (3 syllables) - Similar suffix -ness, stress on the first syllable.

The difference in syllable count for "unneighbourliness" arises from the prefix "un-" and the more complex root "neighbour". The stress pattern is consistent with words ending in -liness where the root is multi-syllabic.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
un- /ʌn/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-Consonant-Silent E rule (though no 'e' here, the 'n' acts as a consonant closure) None
neigh- /neɪ/ Open syllable, stressed Vowel-Consonant rule, diphthong The 'gh' is silent, affecting the vowel sound.
bour- /bər/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant-Vowel-Consonant rule The 'our' combination is a common vowel digraph.
li- /lɪ/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-Consonant rule None
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant-Vowel-Consonant rule Common suffix, often unstressed.

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

  • The silent "gh" in "neighbour" is a historical spelling convention that doesn't align with pronunciation.
  • The "bour" sequence is a relatively uncommon vowel combination, but its pronunciation is well-established.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables often divide after a vowel followed by a consonant (e.g., "li-").
  2. Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC): Syllables often divide before and after a consonant between two vowels (e.g., "bour-").
  3. Diphthong Rule: Diphthongs (vowel combinations like "ei" in "neigh") generally stay within the same syllable.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might slightly alter the vowel sounds, but the syllable division remains consistent. British English might pronounce the 'r' in 'neighbour' more distinctly, but this doesn't change the syllable count.

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 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.