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Hyphenation ofuntrustworthiness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-trust-worth-i-ness

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

/ʌnˈtrʌstˌwɜrθɪnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('worth'). The first, second, fourth, and fifth 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.

trust/trʌst/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

worth/wɜrθ/

Closed syllable, stressed.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed, connecting vowel.

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)
+
trust(root)
+
worth-i-ness(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: trust

Old Norse *traust*, confidence, reliance

Suffix: worth-i-ness

Old English *weorþ* (worth) + Latin -i- (connecting vowel) + Old English *nes* (ness), noun-forming suffix

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being untrustworthy; lack of reliability or honesty.

Examples:

"His untrustworthiness led to the collapse of the deal."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Similar structure with multiple suffixes and stress on the third syllable.

understandabilityun-der-stand-a-bil-i-ty

Similar prefix and suffix structure, stress on the third syllable.

friendlinessfriend-li-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, but differs in stress placement due to a simpler root structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.

Consonant Blend Division

Consonant blends are generally kept together within a syllable.

Stress Placement

Stress influences syllable prominence and vowel reduction.

Suffix Division

Suffixes are typically separated into their own syllables.

Special Considerations

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

Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

The connecting vowel 'i' influences syllabification.

The complex morphology of the word requires careful analysis.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'untrustworthiness' is divided into five syllables: un-trust-worth-i-ness. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('worth'). It's a noun formed from the prefix 'un-', the root 'trust', and the suffixes '-worth', '-i-', and '-ness'. The syllabification follows standard English rules of vowel-consonant division, consonant blend retention, and suffix separation.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "untrustworthiness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "untrustworthiness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a blend of stressed and unstressed syllables, with the primary stress falling on the third syllable.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): un-trust-worth-i-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: trust (Old Norse traust) - Confidence, reliance.
  • Suffix: -worth (Old English weorþ) - Condition of being valuable or worthy.
  • Suffix: -i- (Latin) - Connecting vowel.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English nes) - Noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: un-trust-worth-i-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˈtrʌstˌwɜrθɪnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of multiple suffixes and the vowel sounds within the word present potential complexities. The 'i' before 'ness' is a connecting vowel, common in words derived from Latin, and influences the syllabification.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Untrustworthiness" 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 quality or state of being untrustworthy; lack of reliability or honesty.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: dishonesty, deceitfulness, unreliability, perfidy.
  • Antonyms: trustworthiness, honesty, reliability, integrity.
  • Example Usage: "His untrustworthiness led to the collapse of the deal."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the third syllable, mirroring "untrustworthiness".
  • Understandability: un-der-stand-a-bil-i-ty. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • Friendliness: friend-li-ness. Simpler structure, but shares the "-ness" suffix. Stress falls on the first syllable. The difference in stress placement is due to the root being a single syllable and the lack of a complex root structure like "trustworth".

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
un /ʌn/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel + Consonant None
trust /trʌst/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant Blend + Vowel + Consonant None
worth /wɜrθ/ Closed syllable, stressed Vowel + Consonant Blend + Consonant The 'r' influences the vowel sound.
i /ɪ/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel Connecting vowel, often reduced.
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant + Vowel + Consonant Common noun-forming suffix.

Syllable Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant (VC) Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant (e.g., un-trust).
  2. Consonant Blend Division: Consonant blends (e.g., "tr" in trust, "wr" in worth) are generally kept together within a syllable.
  3. Stress Placement: Stress influences syllable prominence and vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.
  4. Suffix Division: Suffixes are typically separated into their own syllables (e.g., -ness).

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful consideration of vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. The connecting vowel 'i' is a common feature in English words of Latin origin and influences the syllabification.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the most common US English pronunciation, slight variations may occur in different regional accents. These variations are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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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.