HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofgeboortecertificaat

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ge-boort-e-cer-ti-fi-caat

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

/ɣəˈboːrtəsɛrtifiˈkaːt/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0101111

Primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable ('caat').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

ge/ɣə/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

boort/ˈboːrt/

Closed syllable, primary stress potential.

e/ə/

Open syllable, linking vowel.

cer/sɛr/

Closed syllable.

ti/ti/

Open syllable.

fi/fi/

Open syllable.

caat/kaːt/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

ge-(prefix)
+
boort-(root)
+
-certificaat(suffix)

Prefix: ge-

Germanic origin, forms nouns from verbs.

Root: boort-

Germanic origin, related to 'boren' (to drill/bore).

Suffix: -certificaat

Latin origin (via French), denotes a formal document.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A formal document certifying the birth of a person.

Translation: Birth certificate

Examples:

"Ik heb mijn geboortecertificaat nodig."

"Het geboortecertificaat bevestigt de datum."

Synonyms: geboorteakte
Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

waterpaswa-ter-pas

Similar alternating open/closed syllable structure.

telefoonboekte-le-foon-boek

Compound noun with multiple syllables.

computerprogrammacom-pu-ter-pro-gram-ma

Another compound noun, demonstrating typical Dutch syllable patterns.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Vowels generally form open syllables.

Consonant Rule

Consonants following vowels close syllables.

Special Considerations

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

Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., 'ge-' and 'e-' can become /ə/).

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'geboortecertificaat' is a compound noun divided into seven syllables following Dutch syllabification rules. Stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable. The word is morphologically complex, consisting of a Germanic prefix, root, and suffixes, along with a Latin-derived suffix. Syllable division is consistent with other Dutch compound nouns.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: geboortecertificaat

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "geboortecertificaat" (birth certificate) is a compound noun in Dutch. Its pronunciation involves a sequence of vowels and consonants typical of Dutch, with potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, the word is divided as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: ge- (origin: Germanic, function: forms nouns from verbs, often indicating a result or process)
  • Root: boort- (origin: Germanic, related to boren 'to drill, to bore', metaphorically 'to bring forth')
  • Suffix: -e- (origin: Germanic, function: linking vowel)
  • Suffix: -certificaat (origin: Latin certificare via French certificat, function: denotes a formal document attesting to something)

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: cer-ti-fi-caat.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɣəˈboːrtəsɛrtifiˈkaːt/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • ge-: /ɣə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end in vowels. Exception: Initial consonant clusters can sometimes lead to a closed syllable, but 'ge' is typically open.
  • boort-: /ˈboːrt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant after a vowel closes the syllable. Potential exception: Vowel length can influence perception.
  • e-: /ə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel constitutes a syllable.
  • cer-: /sɛr/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant after a vowel closes the syllable.
  • ti-: /ˈti/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel constitutes a syllable.
  • fi-: /fi/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel constitutes a syllable.
  • caat-: /kaːt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant after a vowel closes the syllable.

7. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. The 'e' in 'ge-' and 'e-' can be reduced to a schwa /ə/. The 'oo' in 'boort' is a long vowel /oː/, which is typical in Dutch.

8. Grammatical Role:

"geboortecertificaat" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A formal document certifying the birth of a person.
  • Translation: Birth certificate
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (de-word)
  • Synonyms: geboorteakte (birth record)
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
  • Examples:
    • "Ik heb mijn geboortecertificaat nodig voor mijn paspoort." (I need my birth certificate for my passport.)
    • "Het geboortecertificaat bevestigt de datum en plaats van geboorte." (The birth certificate confirms the date and place of birth.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch. For example, the /aː/ in "caat" might be slightly different depending on the region. However, these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • waterpas: /'vaːtərˌpɑs/ - wa-ter-pas. Similar syllable structure with alternating open and closed syllables.
  • telefoonboek: /tɛləˈfoːnbœk/ - te-le-foon-boek. Compound noun with multiple syllables, stress on the third syllable.
  • computerprogramma: /kɔmˈpytərˌproɣramə/ - com-pu-ter-pro-gram-ma. Another compound noun, demonstrating the typical Dutch pattern of combining words.

The syllable division in "geboortecertificaat" follows the same principles as these words: vowels generally form open syllables, and consonants following vowels close syllables. The length of vowels and the presence of consonant clusters can influence the perceived boundaries, but the core rules remain consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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.