HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofaspirant-ondernemer

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

a-spi-rant-on-der-ne-mer

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

/a.spi.rɑnt ˈɔn.dər.nə.mər/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000100

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

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

a/a/

Open syllable, unstressed.

spi/spi/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

rant/rɑnt/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

on/ɔn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

der/dər/

Open syllable, stressed.

ne/nə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

mer/mər/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

aspirant-(prefix)
+
nem-(root)
+
-er(suffix)

Prefix: aspirant-

From French 'aspirant', ultimately from Latin 'aspirare' (to aspire). Adjectival modifier.

Root: nem-

From Dutch 'nemen' (to take). Germanic origin.

Suffix: -er

Dutch suffix forming nouns denoting agents. Germanic origin.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A person who aspires to be an entrepreneur; someone in the process of becoming an entrepreneur.

Translation: Aspiring entrepreneur

Examples:

"De aspirant-ondernemer had een goed businessplan."

"Hij is een gedreven aspirant-ondernemer."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

werkgeverwer-ge-ver

Similar CVC syllable structure and stress pattern.

waterleidingwa-ter-lei-ding

Compound noun structure, though stress differs due to length.

levensonderhoudle-vens-on-der-houd

Complex compound noun 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), influencing the division of 'a-spi-rant'.

Consonant Cluster Handling

Consonant clusters like 'sp' and 'ndr' are treated as single units within a syllable.

Compound Word Syllabification

Each component of a compound word is syllabified independently.

Penultimate Stress

Primary stress usually falls on the penultimate syllable in compound nouns.

Special Considerations

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

The pronunciation of 'onder-' can vary with vowel reduction.

Regional variations might slightly alter the stress pattern.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The Dutch word 'aspirant-ondernemer' (aspiring entrepreneur) is syllabified as a-spi-rant-on-der-ne-mer, with stress on 'der'. It's a compound noun formed from a French prefix, Dutch prefixes and roots, and a Germanic suffix. Syllabification follows Dutch rules prioritizing open syllables and handling consonant clusters as units.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: aspirant-ondernemer

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "aspirant-ondernemer" is a compound noun in Dutch, meaning "aspiring entrepreneur." It's pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the final syllable receives slightly more emphasis. The 'g' in 'ondernemer' is a voiced 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 division is as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: aspirant- (from French aspirant, ultimately from Latin aspirare 'to aspire'). Morphological function: Adjectival modifier indicating aspiration or ambition.
  • Root: onder- (Dutch prefix meaning 'under', 'below'). Origin: Germanic. Morphological function: Prefix.
  • Root: nem- (from Dutch nemen 'to take'). Origin: Germanic. Morphological function: Root of the verb.
  • Suffix: -er (Dutch suffix forming nouns denoting agents or people who perform an action). Origin: Germanic. Morphological function: Noun-forming suffix.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable, 'nem'. This is typical for Dutch compound nouns.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/a.spi.rɑnt ˈɔn.dər.nə.mər/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for complex consonant clusters, but generally avoids leaving single consonants as syllable onsets. The 'sp' cluster is treated as a single unit. The 'ndr' cluster is also common and is syllabified accordingly.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Aspirant-ondernemer" functions primarily as a noun. While it could theoretically be used adjectivally (e.g., "aspirant-ondernemer plannen" - aspiring entrepreneur plans), the syllabification remains consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A person who aspires to be an entrepreneur; someone who is in the process of becoming an entrepreneur.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine)
  • Translation: Aspiring entrepreneur
  • Synonyms: startende ondernemer (starting entrepreneur), beginnend ondernemer (beginning entrepreneur)
  • Antonyms: gevestigd ondernemer (established entrepreneur)
  • Examples:
    • "De aspirant-ondernemer had een goed businessplan." (The aspiring entrepreneur had a good business plan.)
    • "Hij is een gedreven aspirant-ondernemer." (He is a driven aspiring entrepreneur.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • 'werkgever' (employer): wer-ge-ver. Similar syllable structure (CVC-CVC-CVC). Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • 'waterleiding' (water pipe): wa-ter-lei-ding. Similar compound structure. Stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
  • 'levensonderhoud' (livelihood): le-vens-on-der-houd. Compound noun with multiple syllables. Stress on the 'der' syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the length and complexity of the compound. Longer compounds tend to have more evenly distributed stress, while shorter ones often have a stronger primary stress.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Open Syllable Preference: Dutch favors open syllables (CV). This is why 'a-spi-rant' is preferred over 'asp-i-rant'.
  • Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Handling: Consonant clusters like 'sp' and 'ndr' are generally treated as single units within a syllable.
  • Rule 3: Compound Word Syllabification: Each component of a compound word is syllabified independently before being combined.
  • Rule 4: Penultimate Stress: In compound nouns, the primary stress usually falls on the penultimate syllable.

11. Special Considerations:

The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of each morpheme's syllabification. The 'onder-' prefix is often pronounced with a schwa /ə/, which can affect the perceived syllable boundaries. Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter the stress pattern, but the overall syllabification remains consistent.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in 'onder', making it closer to /ɔn/. This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

13. Short Analysis:

"Aspirant-ondernemer" is a Dutch compound noun meaning "aspiring entrepreneur." It's syllabified as a-spi-rant-on-der-ne-mer, with primary stress on the 'nem' syllable. The word is composed of a French-derived prefix, a Germanic prefix, a Germanic root, and a Germanic suffix. Syllabification follows Dutch rules favoring open syllables and handling consonant clusters as units.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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.