HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofboterhammentrommeltje

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

bo-ter-ham-men-trom-mel-tje

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

/ˈboːtərˌɦɑmə(n)ˌtrɔməltʃə/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

1000100

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable 'trom'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

bo-/boː/

Open syllable, long vowel.

ter-/tər/

Open syllable.

ham-/ɦɑm/

Open syllable.

men-/mən/

Open syllable, 'n' potentially elided.

trom-/trɔm/

Open syllable, primary stress.

mel-/mɛl/

Open syllable.

tje-/tʃə/

Open syllable, diminutive suffix.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

bo-(prefix)
+
ham(root)
+
men-tje(suffix)

Prefix: bo-

From 'boterachtig' (buttery), descriptive.

Root: ham

Meaning 'ham' or 'sandwich', core meaning.

Suffix: men-tje

Plural marker ('men') + diminutive ('tje')

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A small lunchbox, typically used for sandwiches.

Translation: Little sandwich box

Examples:

"Ik neem mijn boterhammentrommeltje mee naar school."

"Het boterhammentrommeltje is leeg."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

boterhambo-ter-ham

Shares the 'ham' root and similar syllable structure.

broodtrommelbro-od-trom-mel

Shares the 'trommel' root and similar syllable structure.

koffiebekerkoff-ie-be-ker

Demonstrates typical Dutch CV syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch favors open syllables (CV) whenever possible.

Consonant Cluster Preservation

Consonant clusters are generally kept intact within a syllable unless breaking them up is unavoidable.

Special Considerations

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

Potential elision of 'n' in 'hammen' in rapid speech or certain dialects.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'boterhammentrommeltje' is a compound noun divided into seven syllables (bo-ter-ham-men-trom-mel-tje) with primary stress on 'trom'. It's built from morphemes relating to butter, ham, and a small box, following typical Dutch syllabification rules that prioritize open syllables and consonant cluster preservation.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "boterhammentrommeltje" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "boterhammentrommeltje" is a Dutch noun meaning "little lunchbox." It's a compound word, built from several morphemes. Pronunciation involves a complex sequence of sounds, typical of Dutch consonant clusters and vowel qualities.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV) and avoid breaking up consonant clusters unless absolutely necessary, the division is as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • bo-ter-ham-men-trom-mel-tje
  • bo-: Prefix, originating from the adjective "boterachtig" (buttery), indicating a relation to butter. (Function: descriptive)
  • ter-: Part of "boter", related to butter. (Function: descriptive)
  • ham-: Root, meaning "ham" or "sandwich". (Function: core meaning)
  • men-: Suffix, plural marker, indicating multiple sandwiches or a general association with sandwiches. (Function: grammatical - pluralization)
  • trom-: Root, meaning "drum" or "box". (Function: container)
  • mel-: Part of "trommel", related to drum/box. (Function: container)
  • tje-: Diminutive suffix, indicating smallness or endearment. (Function: grammatical - diminutive)

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: trom.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈboːtərˌɦɑmə(n)ˌtrɔməltʃə/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Explanation Potential Exceptions
bo- /boː/ Open syllable (CV). Vowel length is determined by the following consonant. None
ter- /tər/ Open syllable (CV). None
ham- /ɦɑm/ Open syllable (CV). None
men- /mən/ Open syllable (CV). The 'n' is often reduced or elided in rapid speech. Elision of 'n' in fast speech.
trom- /trɔm/ Open syllable (CV). Primary stress. None
mel- /mɛl/ Open syllable (CV). None
tje- /tʃə/ Open syllable (CV). None

7. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in breaking up consonant clusters, but generally prefers to keep them intact within a syllable if possible. The 'n' in "hammen" can be reduced or elided in rapid speech, but it's still considered part of the syllable for formal analysis.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word is primarily a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: boterhammentrommeltje
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Definitions:
    • "A small lunchbox, typically used for sandwiches."
    • Translation: "Little sandwich box"
  • Synonyms: broodtrommeltje (bread box), lunchtrommel (lunch box)
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Examples:
    • "Ik neem mijn boterhammentrommeltje mee naar school." ("I'm taking my lunchbox to school.")
    • "Het boterhammentrommeltje is leeg." ("The lunchbox is empty.")

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch. The /ɔ/ in "trom" might be slightly more open or closed depending on the region. The 'n' in "hammen" is more likely to be elided in some dialects.

11. Phonological Comparison:

Word Syllables Reason
boterham bo-ter-ham Similar structure with "ham" as a root. Stress pattern is similar.
broodtrommel bro-od-trom-mel Similar structure with "trommel" as a root. Stress pattern is similar.
koffiebeker koff-ie-be-ker Demonstrates the CV syllable structure common in Dutch.
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 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.