HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofuntempestuousness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-tem-pes-tu-ous-ness

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

/ʌnˈtɛm.pɛs.tʃu.əs.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('tu'). This is due to the influence of the -ous suffix and the overall length of the word.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

tem/tɛm/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

pes/pɛs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

tu/tʃu/

Closed syllable, stressed.

ous/əs/

Open syllable, unstressed.

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)
+
tempest(root)
+
uousness(suffix)

Prefix: un

Old English, negation

Root: tempest

Latin *tempestas*, relating to storms

Suffix: uousness

Latin *-ōsus* and Old English *-nes*, forming a noun denoting a quality

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state of being not stormy or violent; calmness, tranquility.

Examples:

"The untempestuousness of the sea allowed for a smooth voyage."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Adventurousnessad-ven-tur-ous-ness

Similar suffix structure (-ous, -ness) and overall morphological complexity.

Cautiousnesscau-tious-ness

Similar suffix structure (-ous, -ness).

Seriousnessse-ri-ous-ness

Similar suffix structure (-ous, -ness).

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are often split, but attempts are made to keep affixes intact.

Morphological Rule

Syllable boundaries often align with morpheme boundaries.

Stress-Timing Rule

English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable duration and stress placement.

Special Considerations

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

The length of the word and multiple suffixes could lead to ambiguity, but the rules applied provide a consistent breakdown.

The pronunciation of '-tuous' can vary slightly, but the /tʃu/ sequence is standard in US English.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'untempestuousness' is divided into six syllables: un-tem-pes-tu-ous-ness. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('tu'). It's a noun formed from the prefix 'un-', the root 'tempest', and the suffixes '-uous' and '-ness'. Syllabification follows vowel and morphological rules, with stress influenced by the word's length and suffix structure.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "untempestuousness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "untempestuousness" 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.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): un-tem-pes-tu-ous-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: tempest (Latin tempestas - weather, storm) - Relating to storms or turbulent weather.
  • Suffix: -uous (Latin -ōsus) - Having the quality of.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - Forming a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: un-tem-pes-tu-ous-ness. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ous or -ness, but can shift based on morphological complexity.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˈtɛm.pɛs.tʃu.əs.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-tuous" can sometimes be a point of variation, but the standard pronunciation in US English is with a /tʃu/ sequence. The final "-ness" is a common suffix and doesn't present any unusual syllabification challenges.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Untempestuousness" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if the word were to hypothetically function as another part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state of being not stormy or violent; calmness, tranquility.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: peacefulness, serenity, placidity, calmness
  • Antonyms: turbulence, storminess, violence, agitation
  • Example Usage: "The untempestuousness of the sea allowed for a smooth voyage."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Adventurousness: ad-ven-tur-ous-ness. Similar structure with a suffix chain (-ous, -ness). Stress falls on "tur".
  • Cautiousness: cau-tious-ness. Similar suffix structure (-ous, -ness). Stress falls on "tious".
  • Seriousness: se-ri-ous-ness. Similar suffix structure (-ous, -ness). Stress falls on "ri".

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying number of syllables preceding the "-ousness" suffix and the inherent weight of the root morphemes. "Untempestuousness" has a longer root, shifting the stress slightly.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split, but attempts are made to keep affixes intact.
  • Morphological Rule: Syllable boundaries often align with morpheme boundaries.
  • Stress-Timing Rule: English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable duration and stress placement.

11. Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes create a potential for ambiguity in syllable division, but the application of the above rules provides a consistent and accurate breakdown.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the standard US English pronunciation, slight variations may occur in other dialects. These variations are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.

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 dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.