HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofafvalwaterbehandeling

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

af-val-wa-ter-be-han-de-ling

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

/ɑfˈvɑlˌʋaːtərˌbeːɦɑnˈdɛlɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001011

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('ling').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

af/ɑf/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

val/vɑl/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

wa/ʋaː/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

ter/tər/

Closed syllable (CVC), unstressed.

be/beː/

Open syllable (CV), stressed.

han/ɦɑn/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

de/dɛ/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

ling/lɪŋ/

Closed syllable (CVC), stressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

af(prefix)
+
water(root)
+
behandeling(suffix)

Prefix: af

Germanic origin, meaning 'off', 'away from', or 'un-'.

Root: water

Germanic origin, meaning 'water'.

Suffix: behandeling

Dutch, Germanic origin, *be-* (treat) + *-handeling* (handling, treatment). Derivational suffix forming a noun.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The process of treating wastewater to remove pollutants.

Translation: Waste water treatment

Examples:

"De gemeente investeert in nieuwe afvalwaterbehandelingstechnologie."

"Afvalwaterbehandeling is essentieel voor een schoon milieu."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

landschapland-schap

Similar syllable structure (CV-CVC).

waterleidingwa-ter-lei-ding

Similar syllable structure with multiple CV and CVC syllables.

milieuvergunningmi-lieu-ver-gun-ning

Similar compound structure with multiple syllables.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch favors open syllables (CV) whenever possible.

Closed Syllable Formation

Consonant clusters following a vowel create closed syllables (CVC).

Special Considerations

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

Flexibility in compound word syllabification exists, but the provided breakdown is the most common and phonologically justifiable.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may occur, but do not alter the syllable boundaries.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'afvalwaterbehandeling' is a Dutch compound noun. It is divided into eight syllables following Dutch rules prioritizing open syllables and forming closed syllables with consonant clusters. Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('ling'). The word consists of a prefix 'af-', roots 'val' and 'water', and a derivational suffix 'behandeling'.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: afvalwaterbehandeling

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "afvalwaterbehandeling" (waste water treatment) is a compound noun in Dutch. Its pronunciation involves a series of syllables, with stress typically falling on the penultimate syllable. The 'g' at the end of 'behandeling' is a velar fricative /ɣ/.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV) and avoid leaving single consonants at the beginning of a syllable, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: af- (Germanic origin) - meaning "off," "away from," or "un-". Function: Derivational, creating a negative or reversed meaning.
  • Root: val- (Germanic origin, related to "fall") - meaning "fall" or "waste". Function: Lexical core.
  • Root: water- (Germanic origin) - meaning "water". Function: Lexical core.
  • Suffix: -behandeling (Dutch, Germanic origin) - be- (Germanic, meaning "treat") + -handeling (Germanic, meaning "handling, treatment"). Function: Derivational, forming a noun denoting the process of treatment.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: be-han-de-ling.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɑfˈvɑlˌʋaːtərˌbeːɦɑnˈdɛlɪŋ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

  • af /ɑf/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • val /vɑl/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • wa /ʋaː/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • ter /tər/ - Closed syllable (CVC). Rule: When a consonant cluster follows a vowel, the syllable is closed. No exceptions.
  • be /beː/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • han /ɦɑn/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • de /dɛ/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • ling /lɪŋ/ - Closed syllable (CVC). Rule: When a consonant cluster follows a vowel, the syllable is closed. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in compound word syllabification, but the above breakdown is the most common and phonologically justifiable. The 't' in 'water' could potentially be considered part of the following syllable in some analyses, but separating it maintains the open syllable preference.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word is primarily a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function (as it's a compound noun).

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: afvalwaterbehandeling
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Definitions:
    • "The process of treating wastewater to remove pollutants."
    • Translation: Waste water treatment
  • Synonyms: rioolwaterzuivering (sewage treatment)
  • Antonyms: afvalwatervervuiling (wastewater pollution)
  • Examples:
    • "De gemeente investeert in nieuwe afvalwaterbehandelingstechnologie." (The municipality is investing in new wastewater treatment technology.)
    • "Afvalwaterbehandeling is essentieel voor een schoon milieu." (Wastewater treatment is essential for a clean environment.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch, but they don't significantly alter the syllabification. Some speakers might pronounce the 'a' in 'val' slightly differently, but the syllable boundaries remain the same.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • landschap (landscape): land-schap /lɑnˈsxɑp/ - Similar syllable structure (CV-CVC).
  • waterleiding (water pipe): wa-ter-lei-ding /ʋaːtərˈlɛidɪŋ/ - Similar syllable structure with multiple CV and CVC syllables.
  • milieuvergunning (environmental permit): mi-lieu-ver-gun-ning /miˈløːˌvɛrˈɣʏnɪŋ/ - Similar compound structure with multiple syllables.

The differences lie in the specific vowel and consonant sounds, but the underlying syllabification principles (open syllable preference, consonant clusters forming closed syllables) are consistent across these words.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

The hottest word splits in Dutch

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

  • ic-infrastructuur
  • abdiceer
  • Abchazië
  • abcessen
  • Abbekerk
  • abc-boek
  • Abbeweer
  • abubakar
  • abrikoos
  • abattoir
  • absoute
  • abdellah
  • abdullah
  • abdallah
  • absurds
  • absurde
  • abusief
  • abuizen
  • absente
  • absence

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.